The Region 8 Institutionalization-Localization Session was held on May 2-3, 2017 at the Rosvenil Hotel in Tacloban City. The workshop aimed to institutionalize a multi-sectoral mechanism which could help address Human Rights and ESCR (Economic, Social and Cultural Rights) issues for Region 8.
Atty. Marlon Manuel (ALG National Coordinator) first gave the project overview. He said that one major difference for this particular project phase is the inclusion of ESCR (Economic, Social and Cultural Rights) issues.
Atty. Marierose Alvero (CHR Region 8) then gave an “Overview of Human Rights Principles with a Focus on ESCR.” This was followed by presentation on the Human Rights programs of the AFP (given by Maj. Art Dumalagan), the PNP (given by PSSupt Lito Bigoy, PRO8), and the CHR (given by Atty. Marierose Alvero, CHR R8).
Workshop 1 looked at the context of region 8. The participants identified the key human rights issues in the region (especially ESCR issues), the effect these HR and ESCR issues have on the relationship between the security sector and the civilian community, and what concrete actions they recommend to promote and protect human rights in the region.
After the presentation of Workshop 1 outputs, there was a presentation of the roles of Human Rights Officers of the AFP (presented by Maj. Art Dumalagan), the PNP (presented by PSSupt Lito Bigoy), and the roles of the CHR in relation to ESCR (presented by Atty. Desiree Pontejos, CHR R8).
Workshop 2 was a planning for next steps. The groups identified their “doables” or follow-up activities, and core groups per area. The secretariat said that there will be a monitoring meeting after a few months, wherein updates will be gathered. The Closing Remarks were given by Ms. Maryann Co of the Hanns Seidel Foundation of Germany.
This is an activity under the “Community-based Dialogue Sessions on Human Rights Promotion and Protection” Project, which is jointly being implemented by the ALG, the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), the Armed Forces of the Philippines (through the AFP Human Rights Office), the Philippine National Police (through the PNP Human Rights Affairs Office), the Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (PAHRA), with support from the Hanns Seidel Foundation of Germany.
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Date: July 5, 2020
