COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS

Who We Are

The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) is an independent National Human

Rights Institution (NHRI) created under the 1987 Philippine Constitution,
established on 05 May 1987 by virtue of Executive Order No. 163.

The Commission is mandated to conduct investigations on human rights

violations against marginalized and vulnerable sectors of the society, involving
civil and political rights.

CHR is an accredited NHRI, fully complying with the Paris Principles adopted
by the United Nations General Assembly in 1995. As an NHRI, the Commission
upholds six fundamental characteristics” independence, pluralism, broad mandate,
transparency, accessibility, and operational efficiency.

The Commission commits to deliver prompt, responsive, accessible, and

excellent public service for the protection and promotion of human rights in
accordance with universal human rights principles and standards.

Who We Serve
IN THE SERVICE OF THE FILIPINO PEOPLE

The CHR serves all persons in the Philippines, as well as Filipino nationals
abroad. It provides services to both rights-holders, or the vulnerable sectors who
are the Commission’s primary clients, as well as to the duty-bearers, or the
police, military, and the other personas in authority.

Particularly, the CHR prioritizes the following rights-holders:

1. Women
2. Children
3. Youth
4. Persons Deprived of Liberty
5. Indigenous Peoples
6. Workers (Local and Migrant Workers)
7. Internally Displaced Persons
8. Persons Living in Poverty
9. Persons with Disabilities
10. Senior Citizens
11. Persons with Diverse Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and Gender
Expression (SOGIE)
12. Other marginalized groups

The Commission also works to build and strengthen the capacities of duty-
bearers including, but not limited to, frontline service providers; decision and
policy makers, and actors in the security sector and justice system.

It works in partnership with all national government agencies, independent

constitutional commissions, local government units, government-owned and
controlled corporations, educational institutions, and civil society groups.

The CHR engages with the local and international communities for the
protection and promotion of human rights.

Symbolism of the Logo of the Commission on Human Rights

The logo consists of a circle divided into two equal parts signifying equality
in consonance with the principle that all [human beings] shall be equal before the
law and representing the two-fold mandate of the CHR to advance the promotion
and protection of human rights. The dove bearing an olive branch signifies peace,
and a pair of scales symbolizes justice.

The left side of the logo in sky blue connotes the right to advance one well-
being and social, mental, and physical development. The right side in gold
expresses the need “to spur public awareness of the value of human dignity and
the inalienable right to exercise human rights and liberties.

VISION

A just and humane Philippine society of persons equal in opportunity, living

a life of dignity, and forever vigilant against abuses and oppression.

MISSION

As conscience of government and the people, we seek truth in human rights

issues. As beacon of truth, we make people aware of their rights, and guide
government and society towards actions that respect all rights of all, particularly
those who cannot defend themselves – the disadvantaged, marginalized, and
vulnerable.

GOAL STATEMENT
 To be the prime mover in strenghtening respect, understanding and practice
of human rights as the essential corner stone of peace, unity and nation-building.

MANTRA

CHR: Dignity of all

The State values the dignity of every human person

and guarantees full respect for human rights.
(Sec. 11, Art. II, Philippine Constitution)

The Congress shall give highest priority to the enactment of measures that
protect and enhance the right of all the people to human dignity, reduce social,
economic and political inequalities, and remove cultural inequalities by equitably
diffusing wealth and political power for the common good. (Sec. 1, Art.XIII,
Philippine Constitution)

The Constitution of the Philippines provides:

Section 17

(1) There is hereby created an independent office called the Commission on Human
Rights.

(2) The Commission shall be composed of a Chairman and four members who must
be natural-born citizens of the Philippines and a majority of whom shall be
members of the Bar. The term of office and other qualifications and disabilities of
the Members of the Commission shall be provided by law.

(3) Until this Commission is constituted, the existing Presidential Committee on

Human Rights shall continue to exercise its present functions and powers.

(4) The approved annual appropriations of the Commission shall be automatically

and regularly released.

Section 19

The Congress may provide for other cases of violations of human rights that
should fall within the authority of the Commission, taking into account its
recommendations.
Section 18

(1) Investigate, on its own or on complaint by any party, all forms of human rights
violations involving civil and political rights;

(2) Adopt its operational guidelines and rules of procedure, and cite contempt for
violations thereof in accordance with the Rules of Court;

(3) Provide appropriate legal measures for the protection of human rights of all
persons within the Philippines, as well as Filipinos residing abroad, and provide for
preventive measure and legal aid services to the underprivileged whose human
rights have been violated or need protection.

(4) Exercise visitorial powers over jails, prisons, or detention facilities;

(5) Establish a continuing program of research, education, and information to

enhance respect for the primacy of human rights;
(6) recommend to the Congress effective measures to promote human rights and to
provide for compensation to victims of violations of human rights, or their
families;

(7) Monitor the Philippine Government’s compliance with international treaty

on human rights;

(8) Grant immunity from prosecution to any person whose testimony or whose
possession of documents or other evidence is necessary or convenient to
determine the truth in any investigation conducted by it or under its authority;

(9) Request the assistance of any department, bureau, office, or agency in the
performance of its functions;

(9) Request the assistance of any department, bureau, office, or agency in the
performance of its functions;

(10) Appoint its officers and employees in accordance with law; and

(11) Perform such other duties and functions as may be provided by law
 EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 163
DECLARING THE EFFECTIVITY OF THE CREATION OF THE COMMISSION ON
HUMAN RIGHTS AS PROVIDED FOR IN THE 1987 CONSTITUTION, PROVIDING
GUIDELINES FOR THE OPERATION THEREOF, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

WHEREAS, the 1987 Constitution has created an independent office called

the Commission on human Rights; and NOW, THEREFORE, I , CORAZON C.
AQUINO, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the
Constitution, do hereby order:

Section 1: The Commission on Human Rights as provided under Article XIII of the
1987 Constitution is hereby declared to be now in existence.

Section 2: The Commission on Human Rights shall be composed of a Chairman

and four members who must be natural-born citizens of the Philippines and, at the
time of their appointment, at least thirty-five years of age, and must not have been
candidates for any elective position in the elections immediately preceding their
appointment. However, a majority thereof shall be members of the Philippine Bar.

The Chairman and the Members of the Commission on human Rights shall not,
during their tenure, hold any other office or employment. Neither shall they engage
in the practice of any profession or in the active management or control of any
business which in any way may be affected by the functions of their office, nor
shall they be financially interested, directly or indirectly, in any contract with, or in
any franchise or privilege granted by the government, any of its sub-divisions,
agencies, or instrumentalities, including government-owned or controlled
corporations or their subsidiaries.

The Chairman and the Members of the Commission on Human Rights shall be
appointed by the president for a term of seven years without reappointment.
Appointment to any vacancy shall be only for the unexpired term of the
predecessor.

The Chairman and the members of the Commission on human Rights shall receive
the same salary as the Chairman and the Members of the Commission on Human
Rights shall receive the same salary as the Chairman and Members, respectively, of
the Constitutional Commissions, which shall not be decreased during their term of
office.

Section 3: The Commission on Human Rights shall have the following powers and
functions:
Investigate, on its owner on complaint by any party all forms of human rights
violations involving civil and political rights;

Adopt its operational guidelines and rules of procedure, and cite for contempt for
violations thereof in accordance with the rules of Court.

Provide appropriate legal measures for the protection of human rights of all
persons within the Philippines, as well as Filipinos residing abroad and provide for
preventive measures and legal aid services to the under-privileged whose human
rights have been violated or need protection;

Exercise visitorial powers over jails, prisons, or detention facilities;

Establish a continuing program of research, education and information to enhance

respect for the primacy of human rights;

Recommend to the Congress effective measures to promote human rights and to

provide for compensation to victim of violations of human rights, or their families;

Monitor the Philippine Government’s compliance with international treaty

obligations on human rights;

Grant immunity form prosecution to any person whose testimony or whose

possession of documents or other evidence is necessary or convenient to
determine the truth in any investigation conducted by it or under its authority;

Request the assistance of any department, bureau, office or agency in the

performance of its functions;

Appoint its officer and employees in accordance with law; and

Perform such other duties and functions as may be provided by law.

Section 4: The presidential committee on human Rights, created under executive

Order no. 8 dated March 18, 1996, as modified, is hereby abolished. The
Commission on Human Rights shall exercise such functions and powers of the
presidential committee on Human Rights under Executive Order No. 8, as modified,
which are not inconsistent with the provisions of the 1987 Constitution.
The unexpended appropriations of the Presidential Committee on Human Rights
are hereby transferred to the Commission on Human rights. All properties,
records, equipment, buildings, facilities and other assets of the Presidential
Committee on Human Rights shall be transferred to the Commission on Human
Rights.

The Commission on Human Rights may retain such personnel of the Presidential
Committee on Human Rights effected under this Executive Order shall receive the
benefits to which they may be entitled under existing law, rules and regulations

Section 5: The approved annual appropriations of the Commission on Human

Rights shall be automatically and regularly released.

Section 6: All laws, orders, issuances, rules and regulations or parts thereof
inconsistent with this Executive Order are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

Section 7: This Executive Order shall take effect immediately.

Done in the City of manila, this 5 th day of May, in the year of our Lord, nineteen
hundred and eighty-seven.

By the President:
(Sgd.) JOKER P. ARROYO

Executive Secretary
CORAZON C. AQUINO
President of the Philippines