The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) is deeply concerned with how government authorities are handling the case of human rights worker Reinna Mae Nasino.

To recall, Nasino is undergoing trial for the non-bailable charges of alleged violation of illegal possession of firearms and explosives.

We remind the government that, at this point, Nasino remains to be an accused and thus, still presumed to be innocent until proven guilty.

Even in detention, persons deprived of liberty should not be subjected to any cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment and that it remains to be a State obligation to respect their inherent dignity and value as human beings, in line with the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners or the Nelson Mandela Rules.

We likewise extend our sympathies to the family, especially to the mother, for the death of baby River. As duty-bearers, we would have expected officers of the government to have put in mind the best interest of the child. The United Nations Rules for the Treatment of Women Prisoners and Non-Custodial Measures for Women Offenders or the Bangkok Rules explain that “decisions to allow children to stay with their mothers in prison shall be based on the best interest of the children.” However, until the last moment, three-month-old baby River was kept away from her mother.

CHR, through its Investigation Office, is currently looking into Nasino’s case, also considering that there are allegations that her detention is a form of harassment due to her human rights work.

Similar to the recent observations of the UN Human Rights Council, CHR also continues to express concern over threats to lives, liberty, and security, both online and offline, against individuals and groups working to promote and protect human rights. ###