ILOILO – Victims of human rights violations may soon seek assistance from local government units (LGUs).
A proposed provincial ordinance is pushing for the establishment of a local human rights action center in various municipalities and barangays.
Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) member Matt Palabrica of the 3rd District introduced the new measure.
He chairs the SP’s committee on Accounts and General Services and Human Resources.
The creation of these action centers, he said, is in line with the provincial government’s agreement with the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) to promote rights awareness and help victims in their search for justice.
Among the centers’ functions is to provide victims with legal or paralegal assistance and a support network for their complaints.
A committee for human rights action center will also be formed. Its expected roles were the following:
* Refer cases, complaints and reports of human rights violation occurring within the territorial jurisdiction of the pertinent local government unit to the nearest Regional Office of the CHR
* Conduct public hearings, consultations and dialogues concerning the human rights situation in the province /city and municipality or barangay
* Recommend measures to protect and promote human rights of every person in connection with any incident, situation, case or proceeding pending before any office or instrumentality of the government, especially for the poor and marginalized
Palabrica’s proposed ordinance also mulls the creation of the Provincial Human Rights Action Center at the Provincial Legal Office. It shall be composed of the governor as chairperson, regional director of the CHR as co-chairman, provincial director of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), vice governor, chairperson of the sanggunian committee on human rights or its equivalent as second- vice-chairperson and two members from among the members of SP.
For the municipal human rights action centers, each committee shall be composed of the mayor as chairperson, a staff lawyer/information officer or investigator designated by the regional director of the CHR as co-chairperson, sanggunian committee on human rights or its equivalent as second vice-chairperson.
Meanwhile for barangay human rights action centers, each committee shall be composed of the punong barangay as chairperson, chairperson of the sanggunian committee on human rights or its equivalent as vice-chairperson and three members nominated by civil society group, non-government organizations, and people’s organizations accredited by the CHR.
Palabrica believed the creation of barangay or municipal human rights action center would integrate grassroots programs upholding the laws against human trafficking, torture, violence against women and children, and on gender equality and development.
His proposal already passed the committee level and is expected to hurdle the SP’s third and final reading next month./PN
