Senator Robin Padilla (File photo)
PH | The Padilla bill wants to give “more power” to CHR | MANILA – A lawmaker has put forward a bill to give the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) more power by giving it more structure, organizational, and functional freedom.
When Sen. Robinhood Padilla introduced Senate Bill No. 2440, he said that the bill also gives the CHR full financial independence “to make sure that it can do its job quickly, right away, and without any limits.”
“Despite being called a “toothless cat,” the Commission has worked within its limits to do what it is supposed to do. “Therefore, it is important to strengthen its mandates, powers, and functions, and to make it clear that its main job is to help build a culture of human rights in the country,” the bill said.
Under the bill, the CHR will have full power to act on a complaint or on its own in all cases of human rights violations. It will also have the power to give injunctive relief and legal measures. Its independence will be honored and kept, and its budget won’t be cut. Money will be given to it automatically and regularly.
“A fair and democratic country can’t be made without a national human rights organization that is truly independent. Today, more than ever, we need a more active CHR that isn’t limited to investigations or can’t identify violations of human rights other than those involving civil and political rights. Padilla said in a statement, “We need a CHR that can deal with the challenge of protecting and promoting the human rights of everyone, especially the most vulnerable, disadvantaged, and marginalized parts of society.”
He said that the CHR will be seen as a national human rights institution, in line with the Principles Relating to the Status of National Institutions (Paris Principles) and other UN decisions and instruments.
Padilla’s bill lets the CHR protect witnesses and people who fight for human rights who are in danger and set up and run a witness protection service.
The CHR will create and run a public information campaign about human rights. It will also set up a Human Rights Institute (HRI) to promote and educate people about human rights and related topics and to train investigators, prosecutors, justices, judges, lawyers, and other people who work in human rights.
The CHR’s job is to help poor people whose rights have been violated and to put together and release a yearly report about what it has learned from its monitoring activities.
The measure also aims to protect and promote the human rights of Filipinos living abroad, in cooperation with the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Department of Migrant Workers, or deputized Philippine embassy or consulate officers. (via PNA)
