Commission on Human Rights seeks new charter

MANILA, Philippines - On its 22nd anniversary, the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) called yesterday on President Arroyo to certify as urgent a bill in Congress seeking to give it a new charter.

The CHR said human rights remains “inadequately respected, protected, and promoted” in the country.

“(But) the current and continuing human rights picture in the country… (is) a clarion call for the future: the CHR must be strengthened in order to continue effectively fulfilling its crucial mandate in protecting not only human rights but democracy, economic and social development in the Philippines,” the CHR said.

The CHR said the proposed Charter will further assert its “true operational independence” and ensure more resources to assure the continued promotion and protection of human rights in the country.

Chair Leila de Lima said the proposed CHR charter would be the constitutional body’s lifeline that would make its functions clearer.

The CHR’s independence must be supported by “clear legal provisions on its fiscal autonomy and powers over its internal organization” through its charter, she added.

The proposed CHR charter remains at the committee level of the House of Representatives.