HUMAN RIGHTS

EDUCATION

ATTY. GLINDA B. TRINIDAD

09/03/2023 ATTY. GLINDA B. TRINIDAD (Instructress) 1
 THE PHILIPPINE COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS
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 Creation: Mandated by the 1987 Constitution; formally
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constituted by President Aquino’s Executive Order No. 163
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 Composition and Qualifications: One Chairman and four
Members, who must be natural-born citizens of the
Philippines and a majority of whom shall be members of
the Bar (Section 17, Art. XIII, 1987 Constitution)

 Under Section 18, Article XIII of the Philippine Constitution,

the Commission's sole duty is to protect the civil and
political rights of citizens in the Philippines.
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 MANDATES OF THE COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS
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1. Human Rights Protection - Investigation and case management of
RIGHT complaints of violations, including all the powers and services in aid of
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EDUCA investigation, of civil and political rights as well as economic, social, and
TION cultural rights.
Such powers and services include: citing for contempt for violations of
its rules of procedure; legal aid and counseling; visitorial powers over
jails and detention facilities; application of forensic techniques in aid of
investigation; witness protection; and, financial assistance to victim

2. Human Rights Promotion which includes the wide range of strategies

for policy, advocacy, promotion, social mobilization, education, training,
public information, communication, research, networking and linkages
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 MANDATES OF THE COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS
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3. Human Rights Policy Advisory derived from monitoring government’s
RIGHT compliance with the treaty obligations that the Philippines has acceded to:
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International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), International
TION Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), Convention
Against Torture and Other Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT),
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against
Women (CEDAW), Convention Against Racial Discrimination (CERD),
Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), Convention on the Protection
of Migrant Workers and their Families (CMW); Convention on the Rights of
Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).
This also includes the entire aspect of monitoring and evaluating the
performance of the Executive, Legislative, and Judiciary to translate
international human rights standards into national policies, laws, and
practice.[
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 POWER AND FUNCTION OF THE COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS

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(1) Investigate, on its own or on complaint by any party, all forms of
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human rights violations involving civil and political rights;
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(2) Adopt its operational guidelines and rules of procedure, and cite
for contempt for violations thereof in accordance with the Rules of
Court;

(3) Provide appropriate legal measures for the protection of human

rights of all persons within the Philippines, as well as Filipinos
residing abroad, and provide for preventive measures and legal aid
services to the under-privileged whose human rights have been
violated or need protection;
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 POWER AND FUNCTION OF THE COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS

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(4) Exercise visitorial powers over jails, prisons, or detention facilities;
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EDUCA
TION (5) Establish a continuing program of research, education, and
information to enhance respect for the primacy of human rights;

(6) Recommend to Congress effective measures to promote human

rights and to provide for compensation to victims of violations of
human rights, or their families;

(7) Monitor the Philippine Government’s compliance with

international treaty obligations on human rights;
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 POWER AND FUNCTION OF THE COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS

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(8) Grant immunity from prosecution to any person whose testimony or
RIGHT whose possession of documents or other evidence is necessary or
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EDUCA convenient to determine the truth in any investigation conducted by it
TION or under its authority;

(9) Request the assistance of any department, bureau, office, or agency

in the performance of its functions;

(10) Appoint its officers and employees in accordance with law; and

(11)Perform such other duties and functions as may be provided by

law.
09/03/2023 ATTY. GLINDA B. TRINIDAD (Instructress) 7