MANILA, Philippines – The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) launched a consultative caucus with civil society organizations (CSOs), calling for “direct and effective” government action to address violations, including those committed under President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs.

The CSO-CHR Consultative Caucus for Human Rights (C4HR) aims to be “an inclusive, strategic, and collaborative response to the pressing human rights and social justice issues.” (READ: Things to know: Human rights in the Philippines)

“We will leverage the complementary roles of the CHR and CSOs to pursue common objectives through active, consultative, and inclusive engagement; mindful of the constitutionally-guaranteed independence and autonomy of the CHR, and the diversity and independence of civil society,” the caucus said in a statement on Thursday, December 7. 

Its objectives include raising public awareness of human rights, coordinating action among stakeholders to promote and defend these rights, and upholding the 1987 Constitution. 

Aside from these, C4HR also aims to endorse evidence-based data on human rights violations to the CHR and other law enforcement agencies.

CHR Chairperson Chito Gascon said that this initiative, launched ahead of International Human Rights Day on Sunday, December 10, is a welcome development in fostering “more regular mechanisms of dialogue and partnership.” 

“We look forward to making this mechanism more institutionalized and we take the goals and objectives seriously,” he added. 

Human rights organizations have long been the subject of threats as they continue to call out alleged violations in Duterte’s bloody anti-drug campaign. Even the President himself threatened to have human rights advocates shot for “obstructing justice.” (READ: ‘Demonizing’ human rights in the first year of Duterte) 

Rosa Trajano, secretary-general of the Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (PAHRA), said they will continue to work against violations despite threats.

“As human rights defenders, naghahanda kami at nag-aaral na protektahan ang aming sarili. But we will not stop, promise iyan and challenge – na kahit sino pa ang magpahinto sa aming kilos, hindi kami hihinto lalo na ngayon na malakas kami kasi sama-sama kami,” she said.

(As human rights defenders, we are ready and we are learning how to protect ourselves. But we will not stop, that’s a promise and a challenge – whoever wants to stop us, we will not allow them to especially now that we’re stronger because we’re acting together.) 

Aside from PAHRA, initial convenors of the caucus include:

• Ateneo Human Rights Center
• Arya Progresibo
• Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines – National Secretariat for Social Action
• Center for Migrant Advisory
• Center for People Empowerment
• IDEALS
• Institute of Politics and Governance
• Legal Network for Truthful Elections (LENTE)
• LIBERTAS
• Participatory Education on Rights Awareness and Social Action (PERAS)
• Rural-Urban People’s Linkages
• SENTRO
• Simbahang Lingkod ng Bayan
• Task Force Elections
• Youth Resist

Gascon urged other civil society organizations to join the fight against abuses.

“We extend this invitation to all organizations to join us in this mechanism so we can work together more,” he said. – Rappler.com