Wednesday, 15 June 2022
We, civil society organizations representing a broad range of basic sectors, advocacies, and grassroots work in the Philippines, anticipating the forthcoming change of leadership in the Commission on Human rights, uphold preserving the integrity, independence, and effective functioning of the Philippine National Human Rights Institution. We ask that the transition period and process from the 5th to the 6th Commission happening between the period of March 5 and June 29, 2022, to take place in a lawful, transparent, inclusive, consultative, and participative manner. As the institution mandated to investigate all forms of human rights violations, the nomination and selection process must follow these principles:
I. The next Chairperson and Commissioners must embody exemplary qualities and qualifications The selection process should be evidence-based and only anchored on criteria meant to establish the best-suited and qualified individuals for the posts. Political trading or concessions should not figure into the selection process. Nominees and the composition of the Chairperson and Commissioners should be fit for its purpose and in conformity with the following legal and guiding frameworks embodying non-negotiable criteria and standards:
Legal bases and guiding principles:
The Paris Principles or Principles relating to National Human Rights Institutions
The selection process for CHR officials must be in accordance with international standards as stated in the Paris Principles, the human rights standards recognized globally which frame and guide the work of National Human Rights Institutions (NHRI). Under the Paris Principles, the CHR commissioners must be chosen in accordance with a procedure that may involve an election or deliberations by different sectors. The officials must maintain their independence after appointment.
International Human Rights Legal Frameworks
The Philippine Constitution
Kandy Program of Action
Specific Criteria and standards for the set of appointees:
Gender balance
Pluralism and balance in expertise
Majority should be members of the Philippine Bar
Clear good and long standing track record in human rights work and service
Should be persons with unequivocal Moral Probity and Integrity
Persons who value the truth
Persons who possess a strong sense of justice,
Individuals who are independent from any political party and political families
Persons with proven track record in upholding human rights,
Natural-born citizens of the Philippines
At least thirty five years of age
Must not have been candidates for any elective position in the 2022 elections immediately preceding their appointment.
Nominees, and those who will ultimately sit as Chairperson and Commissioners, must have clearly demonstrated a consistent stand against Extra-judicial Killings, Human Rights violations, and the defense of the Right to Life. Anyone who has provided legitimacy to Extra-judicial Killings or has favored the reinstatement of capital punishment and/or lowering of the age of criminal responsibility should never be considered.
Individuals who were involved in profiling, denigrating the reputations of human rights organizations and human rights defenders and endangering their lives must also be barred from being considered as nominees. Any person who has made public statements that are sexist and misogynist, homophobic and transphobic, whether as a public official or a private citizen, should also be excluded in the nomination. Nominated individuals should also genuinely and completely endorse and champion historical truths and facts while vehemently oppose historical distortion.
Nominees must also show support in advancing climate and environment justice, right to food, and the right of indigenous peoples.
II. A transparent, inclusive, consultative and participative process:
The nomination and appointment process must be transparent and inclusive. It must involve the consultation of and active participation by civil society, human rights groups, people’s organizations, organizations representing basic sectors, the academe and take seriously into account their nominees. The process should be publicly transparent and should be open to everyone interested to contribute.
III. Ensure independence of appointees:
Ensuring the independence of the future CHR Chairperson and Commissioners entails carrying out the above mentioned broad national consultation process and that the appointees are drawn from the list of nominees that civil society, human rights groups and academe vetted. The principles of non-partisanship should apply in the nomination process as well as in the selection and appointment of candidates by the executive.
SIGNATORIES:
ACTIVE VISTA
ALLIANCE OF TRI PEOPLE FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF HUMAN RIGHTS (ALTAHR)
ALTERNATIVE LAW GROUP (ALG)
ALYANSA NG MAMAMAYAN PARA SA KARAPATANG PANTAO (AMKP)
ALYANSA NG MARALITANG PILIPINO (AMP)
ALYANSA TIGIL MINA (ATM)
AMATEUR MEDIA ASSOCIATION OF PHILIPPINE SCOUTS
ANIBAN NG MANGGAGAWA SA AGRIKULTURA (AMA)
ASEAN SOGIE Caucus (ASC)
ATENEO HUMAN RIGHTS CENTER (AHRC)
BALAY REHABILITATION CENTER
BUKLURAN NG MANGGAGAWANG BULAKENYO
CARITAS PHILIPPINES
CENTER FOR ENERGY, ECOLOGY AND DEVELOPMENT (CEED)
CENTER FOR MIGRANT’S ADVOCACY (CMA)
CENTER FOR POPULAR EMPOWERMENT, INC (CPE)
CHILDREN'S LEGAL RIGHTS AND DEVELOPMENT CENTER (CLRDC)
CONFERENCE OF MAJOR SUPERIORS IN THE PHILIPPINES (CMSP)
DAKILA
DAP-AYAN TI BABBA-I
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE FOR SOCIAL CHANGE (ESSC)
EPISCOPAL COMMISSION ON INDIGENOUS PEOPLES-NATIONAL SECRETARIAT (ECIP-NS)
FAMILIES OF VICTIMS OF INVOLUNTARY DISAPPEARANCE (FIND)
FOCUS ON THE GLOBAL SOUTH
GREENPEACE
HEALTH CARE WITHOUT HARM (HCWH)
HUMAN RIGHTS ONLINE PHILIPPINES (HRONLINEPH)
IN DEFENSE OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND DIGNITY MOVEMENT (iDEFEND)
KALIPUNAN NG KATUTUBONG MAMAMAYAN SA PILIPINAS (KATRIBU-IPMLSDL)
KANLUNGAN CENTRE FOUNDATION INC.
KARAPATAN ALLIANCE PHILIPPINES
KILOS KA
LILAK (PURPLE ACTION FOR INDIGENOUS WOMEN'S RIGHTS)
MEDICAL ACTION GROUP (MAG)
METRO MANILA PRIDE
MS. BEVERLY L. LONGID
MS. ROSE TRAJANO
OFM-JPIC
PARTIDO MANGGAGAWA (PM)
PHILIPPINE ALLIANCE OF HUMAN RIGHTS ADVOCATES (PAHRA)
PHILIPPINE COALITION FOR THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT (PCICC)
PHILIPPINE HUMAN RIGHTS INFORMATION CENTER (PHILRIGHTS)
PHILIPPINE MISEREOR PARTNERSHIP, INC. (PMPI)
PIGLAS MARALITA
PINOYCERT.ORG
SAMAHAN NG MAMAMAYAN- ZONE ONE TONDO, INC. (SM-ZOTO)
SAN BEDA LAW HUMAN RIGHTS ADVOCATES
SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION FOUNDATION, Inc. (SWCFI)
SOS YAMANG BAYAN NETWORK
SUMPAY MINDANAO
TASK FORCE DETAINEES OF THE PHILIPPINES (TFDP)
THE JOHN J. CARROL INSTITUTE ON CHURCH AND SOCIAL ISSUES (ICSI)
TRUE COLORS COALITION
YOUNG WOMEN INITIATIVES (YOUWIN)