The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) notes the statement of the President before the United Nations General Assembly, particularly on affirming the government’s commitment to protect human rights. As the country’s independent national human rights institution, CHR acknowledges that government can do more and better in fulfilling its obligations in protecting the human rights of all.

We echo the view that, while impunity did not start from this administration alone, this government has a definite role in ending it or, at the very least, not making it worse with present attitudes and behaviours.

It is contrary to democracy to depict dissent and protests as efforts to destabilise. Sectors, such as the media, and the community of civil society and human rights defenders at large play an important role in truth-telling in a democratic society. Government may not agree with them on varying issues, but the freedom to express, including the right to demand accountability, must be protected and upheld by the government at all times.

It is our view that the best way in improving the human rights situation in the country is by encouraging constructive engagement. We stress the need for credible efforts towards open dialogue both at the national and international levels. This includes open and unhindered access to conduct special investigations and guarantees from law enforcement agencies to fully cooperate with independent human rights mechanisms and UN special rapporteurs, as well as with CHR, towards filing cases and ensuring that perpetrators of human rights violations are held accountable and punished.

We stress that, despite persistent challenges, the Commission has never closed its doors for opportunities for cooperation with government in holding perpetrators of human rights violations to account. We continue to look forward to an atmosphere of transparency, open dialogue, and respect for individual mandates in the interest of upholding the rights and dignity, most especially of the vulnerable, disadvantaged, and marginalised sectors.

CHR continues to offer its advice to government to look at different aspects of governance using human rights lens. The most pronounced of which—because of timing and magnitude—is in ensuring a humanitarian, health-based approach in responding to the pandemic, further complicated by continuing indignities and human rights violations in communities.

In the end, the rhetoric of support for human rights practices and principles should translate to realities on the ground where it matters most. Justice and effective remedies for all victims must be made accessible to all. We will build a better if we anchor policies of inclusion and partnership, instead of division and attacks. ###