CHR renews push for rights defenders protection bill

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) has reiterated its call for the passage of the Human Rights Defenders Protection Bill as well as to end the practice of red-tagging of rights defenders, activists and other advocate groups.

The CHR issued the statement in the wake of a recent report of the United Nations’ Human Rights Committee (UNHRC) showing grave human rights violations and high number of extrajudicial killings in the Philippines.

“The CHR have stressed the value of dissent as a means to challenge acts and polices that repress our rights and diminish the place of democratic values in our society. We reiterate our call for the passage of the Human Rights Defenders Protection Bill, including an end to the practice of red-tagging of human rights defenders, activists and other advocates,” the CHR said.

“We hope the report of the Human Rights Committee will help the government focus its efforts and resources on building and implementing a more meaningful human rights agenda,” it added.

The CHR said the Philippine government must view the UNHRC report as an “objective assessment of the country’s strides and a strong reminder of the commitments of the government where it falls short.”

It said just like the UNHRC, the CHR has also been stressing the value of dissent as a means to challenge acts and policies that repress people’s rights and diminish the place of democratic values in society.

“We cannot and should never construe activism as an act of terrorism, but take it rather as a sign of the rich tradition of democracy that needs protection. We have raised concerns on the weaponization of laws to silence critics and perpetuate injustices,” the CHR said.

It cited its “2020 Report on the Situation of Human Rights Defenders in the Philippines,” which documented the aggressions and challenges experienced by lawyers, church groups, civil society organizations and human rights defenders.

“We continue to campaign for the passage of a CHR Charter that is fully compliant with the Paris Principles, which outlines the mandate and resources needed to operate as an independent and credible national human rights institution,” the CHR said.

It said it is ready, willing and able to engage the government as well as civil society in realizing the country’s collective goal of a just and humane society, “wherein the rights and dignity of all are upheld at all times.”

Meanwhile, the CHR welcomed the government’s intention to ratify the International Labor Organization (ILO) Convention 81 on Labor Inspection, which aims to promote humane working hours, proper wages and workers’ safety.

It said Convention 81 is one of six additional conventions proposed by the European Union Commission to its trading country-partners for their inclusion or renewal under the EU Generalized Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+).

“Since 2014, the Philippines has benefited from its GSP+ status, generating billions from the increased access of product exports to the EU market. However, for trading partners such as the Philippines to retain this status, they must comply with human rights standards stated in 27 United Nations and ILO conventions on labor, good governance, environment and climate, rule of law and human rights,” the CHR said.

Once the Philippine government ratifies Convention 81, it will be required to adopt and maintain a labor inspection system in industrial workplaces.

These include the assessment of legal provisions relating to hours, wages, health and safety, workers’ welfare, employment of minors, technical development as well as workplace abuse.

The convention also requires that inspections must engage qualified technical experts and specialists to provide objective evaluation of workplace conditions and protection of workers.

“Ratifying ILO Convention 81 is aligned with the government’s obligation to improve the people’s enjoyment of their economic, social and cultural rights, particularly by granting full protection to workers’ right to self-organize, collective bargaining, security of tenure and a just and humane working condition,” the CHR said.

It said addressing labor issues and crafting policies to solve them should be primary in the government’s post-pandemic recovery plans.

“Not only will it uplift the working class, it will also help cushion the impacts of rising inflation to Filipinos. CHR hopes for the continued prioritization of workers’ dignity and plight,” the CHR said.