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Gov’t gets passing mark for human rights compliance

Written by Misael on 07 May 2008

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s administration in protecting and promoting human rights nationwide is between seven and eight out of a perfect 10 score performance.

This was disclosed by former Commission on Human Rights (CHR) Chairperson Purificacion Quisumbing, when officially ended her constitutionally- mandated seven-year service to the agency.

“Human rights compliance covers civil, economic, cultural, political and other aspects and I think government did well in several of these,” she said

According to Quisumbing, the government moved up the human rights rating scale from a failed grade previously when it abolished the death penalty and passed the juvenile justice law.

She also lauded the Palace for creating the Melo Commission that looked into local killings and for allowing foreign monitoring of the Philippine human rights situation.

Both the armed forces and the police likewise boosted respective efforts to address extra-judicial executions in the country so that the number of such incidents dropped, she continued.

“The government is at least now more aware of the country’s human rights situation and I’m glad authorities are sensitive enough to do something about it,” she said.

Quisumbing, however clarified that her rating at this time can’t be higher as the government posted shortcomings in addressing the country’s human rights situation. She cited in particular the failure of Congress to pass laws aimed at preventing human rights violations. (PIA/Bohol)

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