THE Commission on Human Rights (CHR) on Friday commended the Isabela City government in Basilan for enacting an ordinance protecting human rights advocates.
Isabela City Ordinance No. 22-717 was reputedly the first ever local government law on the protection of human rights defenders.
“The measure manifests the city government’s recognition of its legal and moral obligation to ensure the protection of human rights defenders who play a key role in promoting human rights, democracy andvthe rule of law,” the CHR said.
CHR chairman Richard Palpal-latoc, along with Commissioner Beda Epres, visited Isabela City to personally hand over a plaque of recognition to the city’s councilors.
“The enactment of this pioneer ordinance is a key development in the current Commission’s vision to bring the CHR and human rights directly to the people and communities. It is also a concrete move to protect human rights defenders at the local level, which is crucial in creating a conducive environment for human rights at the grassroots level,” Palpal-latoc said.
“Localizing the HRD bill has become one of our efforts together with our partners to institutionalize state obligations in the local level for the protection of the rights of HRDs as a response to the attacks, red-tagging, vilification, and threats to their lives and security,” Epres said.
“The series of meetings, consultatons, and lobby efforts conducted by the CHR through the Policy Advisory Office and its partners yielded to this very first Human Rights Defenders Protection Ordinance in the Philippines. This is a milestone achievement for the CHR and all advocates of human rights as this marks the first tangible proof of our work in the local policy level to protect our fellow human rights defenders,” he added.
The CHR envisions every local government to emulate Isabela’s move in protecting human rights defenders.
“As duty-bearers at the local level, this is a concrete way for municipal leaders to show they value human rights and the welfare of the people who fight for and defend it, especially the rights and dignity of the marginalized and the disadvantaged ones,” the CHR stressed.