CHR CSJHP - Center for Social Justice and Humanitarian Protection

04/07/2025

02/06/2025

📢 CALL FOR ABSTRACTS!

Join us at the 2025 CHR Conference on International Humanitarian Law (IHL): Human Rights and the Security Sector in the Dynamic 21st Century happening on 15 August 2025 in Quezon City, Philippines! 🇵🇭

The 21st Century has brought about a new age of technology and with it comes changes in how States uphold their security and sovereignty, including managing their security sector in such an evolving and dynamic world. Climate change, pandemics, and Artificial Intelligence affect modern warfare, thereby posing threats, and perhaps opportunities, in the fulfillment of human rights in situations of armed conflict.

Are you a researcher, academic, or practitioner with insights on:

• Insider view on the Philippine security sector in the face of the changing times
• Security sector reform and governance
• Armed conflict in the contexts of climate change, pandemics, and digital technology

📝 Submit your abstract now: https://tinyurl.com/chrihlconference
📅 Deadline: 20 June 2025

View the full concept note here: https://tinyurl.com/chrihlconcept
📧 For inquiries: [email protected]

05/08/2024

24/07/2024

17/07/2024

https://www.facebook.com/100083097648864/posts/484320697681181/?mibextid=rS40aB7S9Ucbxw6v

20/06/2023

In celebration of the World Refugee Day 2023, the Commission on Human Rights, through the Center for Crisis, Conflict, and Humanitarian Protection (CCCHP) of the Human Rights Centers Management Office (HRCMO) is organizing activities to advocate the cause of refugees and asylum seekers and retrace the history of the Philippines in supporting the rights of refugees.

The photo exhibit "9 Waves of Refugees" showcases the Philippines' commitment to refugee protection. The country has hosted nine (9) waves of influx of refugees coming from different countries mired with armed conflict, racial and religious persecution, and other extremely difficult circumstances.

The Photo Exhibit is installed at Bulwagang Ka Pepe, Commission on Human Rights Central Office, from 20 June to 23 June 2023.

(Photos and captions in the exhibit are primarily provided by the UNHCR, with some photos coming from other sources)

25/05/2023

CCCHP Statement on the 6th Anniversary of the Marawi Siege

It has been six years since the Marawi Siege on 23 May 2017. Leaving over thousands dead, hundreds of thousands displaced, and billions of pesos worth of properties destroyed, the Siege had severely affected the lives of Filipinos especially those in the City of Marawi.

To this day, the wounds of the Siege continue to be felt. More than 80,000 individuals remain in situations of displacement. As the country’s National Human Rights Institution (NHRI), the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) continuously monitors the situation of persons affected by the Marawi Siege. While there have been marked improvements in communities’ access to basic needs and services and in the implementation of the Marawi Compensation Act, gaps and protection issues linked to displacement continue to surface. Victims have yet to achieve healing and justice, and IDPs still lack the mechanisms to pursue their desired durable solutions.

The CHR calls on the State to continuously support the communities affected by the Marawi Siege and ensure that solutions are sustainable and long-term. Aside from restitution and compensation, the prevention of violent extremism and support transitional justice efforts in Marawi City must be undertaken.

As we commemorate the Marawi Siege, we must strive to keep the stories of the affected communities remembered in the national consciousness. We join those affected towards healing, peace, justice, and the fulfillment of their human rights.

11/12/2022

Seventy-four years ago, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly. Today, 10 December 2022, we once again celebrate Human Rights Day.

The UDHR is a global milestone document that declares human beings’ inalienable rights regardless of their race, color, religion, s*x, language, political background, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. Representatives from different nations convened to pen their commitment to ending violence and inhuman treatment that occurred during World War II. Available in more than 500 languages, the UDHR is the most translated document in the world.

The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) enjoins everyone, especially government leaders and policymakers to put in practice the principles espoused in the UDHR. We underline that the interrelated and indivisible nature of human rights means that the violation of one immediately affects several other rights. As a nation aspiring to develop holistically, we must remain steadfast in fostering a culture of human rights in order to truly thrive. Any disregard to human rights is a threat to our dignity and humanity.

In times of crisis, we must remind the world of the message of the UDHR: We cannot have progress and peace without human rights.

08/11/2022

https://www.facebook.com/photo?
fbid=500152878805968&set=a.226241586197100On

08 November 2013, one of the strongest typhoons in recorded history battered the county. Typhoon Haiyan (local name: Yolanda) caused the death of at least 6,000 people within just a few hours from landfall. One survivor recounted what he saw—water carrying and drowning everything in its path, even humans and animals. Nine years later, affected communities have yet to fully recover from Yolanda’s devastating impacts due to trauma and due to the continued onslaught of extreme weather events in the country.
These events spurred the filing of a petition—supported by farmers, human rights groups, and concerned citizens—to the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) calling for a national inquiry to determine the possible contribution of fossil fuel companies or 'carbon majors' on climate change and its effects on the human rights of the Filipino people.
Petitioners said: "Hindi lang problemang pangkapaligiran ang climate change, ito rin ay isyu ng katarungang panglipunan. Pinalalala ng climate change ang paghihirap ng mga mamamayan at ilagay sila sa lalong kapahamakan. Kaya mahalagang papanagutin ang maymgapinakamalaking responsibilidad sa paglubha ng climate change." [Climate change is not just an environmental problem, it is also an issue of social justice. Climate change worsens the suffering of the people and places them in even more danger. So it is important to hold accountable those who bear the greatest responsibility for worsening climate change.]
In our report on the National Inquiry on Climate Change (NICC), CHR indeed found that carbon majors engaged in wilful obfuscation of climate science and deliberately derailed efforts towards a transition to clean energy globally. CHR also concluded that it is the obligation of States to address climate change by enactment of laws to regulate business practices. Laws must hold enterprises within their jurisdictions legally liable for acts harming the environment and the climate system.
We must not let a repeat of Super Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) happen. In honor of the victims, let us call for justice and urge our government to act with urgency to address the climate crisis.

On 08 November 2013, one of the strongest typhoons in recorded history battered the county. Typhoon Haiyan (local name: Yolanda) caused the death of at least 6,000 people within just a few hours from landfall. One survivor recounted what he saw—water carrying and drowning everything in its path, even humans and animals. Nine years later, affected communities have yet to fully recover from Yolanda’s devastating impacts due to trauma and due to the continued onslaught of extreme weather events in the country.

These events spurred the filing of a petition—supported by farmers, human rights groups, and concerned citizens—to the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) calling for a national inquiry to determine the possible contribution of fossil fuel companies or 'carbon majors' on climate change and its effects on the human rights of the Filipino people.

Petitioners said: "Hindi lang problemang pangkapaligiran ang climate change, ito rin ay isyu ng katarungang panglipunan. Pinalalala ng climate change ang paghihirap ng mga mamamayan at ilagay sila sa lalong kapahamakan. Kaya mahalagang papanagutin ang maymgapinakamalaking responsibilidad sa paglubha ng climate change." [Climate change is not just an environmental problem, it is also an issue of social justice. Climate change worsens the suffering of the people and places them in even more danger. So it is important to hold accountable those who bear the greatest responsibility for worsening climate change.]

In our report on the National Inquiry on Climate Change (NICC), CHR indeed found that carbon majors engaged in wilful obfuscation of climate science and deliberately derailed efforts towards a transition to clean energy globally. CHR also concluded that it is the obligation of States to address climate change by enactment of laws to regulate business practices. Laws must hold enterprises within their jurisdictions legally liable for acts harming the environment and the climate system.

We must not let a repeat of Super Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) happen. In honor of the victims, let us call for justice and urge our government to act with urgency to address the climate crisis.