House Committee On Human Rights Approves Human Rights Defenders Bill
HUMAN RIGHTS – On Tuesday (December 4), the House Committee On Human Rights recently approved the Human Rights Defenders Bill.
The approved bill is requires government agencies to act on reports regarding human right(HR) violations in within three days, amid other protective clauses for rights workers.
The House panel, led by Representative Cheryl Deloso-Montalla of Zambales, approved the said bill without any objections from committee members, in which most of them are authors of the measure from the Makabayan block.
Chito Gascon, Commission on Human Rights chairperson, upon welcoming the bill, described it as a groundbreaking step not only for the Philippines but also other countries in Asia.
A report from GMA News stated that the bill is significant as this law is the first of its kind in the Philippines and also the first in Asia, says Gascon. He further added that this will put flesh to the UN Declaration of HR Defenders, which is being commemorated on its 20th anniversary.
Furthermore, Gascon said that the bill will send a strong message that it is possible to have an effective mechanism for HR defenders. This would also mean that the Philippines is back in the map in terms of HR protection and promotion. The three-day response, according to Gascon, is necessary to prevent violation of HR. For a HR victim, one day is already long enough, he further added.
As per the report, the congress will be in session until December 12 before going into Christmas break. Montalla, however, feels positive that the bill will gain enough support in time amidst the tight schedule and President Rodrigo Duterte’s constant threats against HR workers who criticize his administration’s war on drugs.
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