CHR to media: Be our human rights watchdog

QUEZON CITY, July 12 (PIA) — In line with President Benigno S. Aquino III’s call to a more effective promotion and protection of human rights, Commission on Human Rights (CHR) chair Loretta Ann ‘Etta’ Rosales on Tuesday appealed to members of media to be their agency’s watchdog in monitoring the human rights compliance of government officials and men in uniform.

“Let us use this opportunity so that you can help in the monitoring of the human rights situation and the performance of the CHR in relation to the paradigm shift of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the development programs under the new (Aquino) administration,” she said.

Recently, amid allegations of extra judicial killings and human rights violations, the AFP has embarked on a plan to implement a paradigm shift that embraces a people-centered approach under the broader frame of human security.

Admitting that she herself was a victim of military torture, Rosales said media played a crucial role in shining the spotlight on these human rights violations which helped create public awareness and shape program and policy formulation of government.
Rosales said that under the AFP’s current leadership, programs and policies of the organization has been guided by the principles of human rights.

Proof of this, she said, “the AFP is going to set up a human rights affairs office in all its 80 battalions nationwide.”

On the other hand, as a way of showing its support for the human rights effort, the Philippine National Police will also delegate human rights affairs officers in all its 1,744 city, municipality and district offices, she said.

At the same time, the CHR chair underscored the importance of reorienting the members of the military and police through effective human rights education in order to change their culture towards peace and good governance.

“Unang-una ay ilalatag namin ang culture of human rights dito sa ating bansa at para mailatag ito nang mabisa, kinakailangan abutin namin ang mga nangangailangan ng human rights education dito sa gobyerno… ang unang-unang dapat gumalang sa karapatang pantao ay mga ahente ng pamahalaan, lalo na ang law enforcement agencies” Rosales said.

(We should first touch base with those in government who truly needs human rights education so that we can effectively spread the culture of human rights…the agents of government, especially the law enforcement agencies, should be the first to respect the rights of others.) (RJB/JCP-PIA NCR)