Press Release May 17, 2017 De Lima seeks mandatory human rights education Senator Leila M. de Lima has proposed a mandatory and continuing education and training on human rights among law enforcement and military personnel as well as public school teachers. De Lima, a former chairperson of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), said she believes that there is a pressing need to enhance respect for the primacy of human rights among the country's law enforcement agencies She noted that there seems to be a popular view that the status of CHR may not be fully appreciated as the highest government machinery in the promotion and protection of human rights. "CHR is a partner of security forces in human rights education, the legislative department in rights-based approach to law-making, the judiciary in evolving breaches of human security through enforced disappearance, and intermediary between government and civil society," she said. Under Senate Bill (SB) 1230 she filed, the CHR shall undertake a program of human rights promotion and advocacy through education and training to enhance respect for the primacy of human rights in coordination with different agencies of government. SB 1230 shall likewise administer a Mandatory and Continuing Human Rights Education Program for the military, police, and other law enforcement agencies, as well as public school teachers, and shall draw up the components of the Program, accredit course and training providers, and issue certificates of completion to those who have successfully completed the Program. The Senator from Bicol urged Senate President Koko Pimentel to give priority to the passage into law of SB 1230, also known as the Commission on Human Rights Act, and be calendared in the Senate's legislative agenda. "CHR has proven its exemplary work as cornerstone of human rights in the country. This has been affirmed by the Supreme Court when it expressly commended the efforts of CHR in the investigation of the disappearance of Jonas Joseph Burgos, who was abducted 10 years ago," she said. "To empower the CHR as an institution through a Charter will therefore not only reinforce the recommendations and recognition of its contribution to safeguard fundamental rights and freedoms, but will serve the higher purpose of institutionalization of treaty commitments by the Philippine government," she added. Aside from Mandatory and Continuing Education, the other salient features of the bill are:
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