Leyte: The Leyte Normal University (LNU) has become the first educational institution in the province to establish a partnership with the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) for the creation of a Center for Human Rights Education (CHRE). The collaboration was officially marked by the signing of a memorandum of agreement, led by CHR Eastern Visayas Officer-in-Charge Director Joy Sodusta and LNU President Dr. Gil Nicetas Villarino.

According to Philippines News Agency, the CHRE is a specialized unit designed to promote, teach, and conduct research on human rights within higher education institutions (HEIs) across the nation. This initiative aims to integrate human rights education into programs such as the National Service Training Program, ensuring that the principles of human dignity and respect are embedded in institutional policies and daily interactions within the university community.

Sodusta expressed her gratitude for LNU's collaboration with CHR, emphasizing that the establishment of the center will bolster efforts to cultivate a culture rooted in the respect for human dignity. Other HEIs in Eastern Visayas, such as Biliran Province State University, Northwest Samar State University, Eastern Samar State University, and Samar State University, have also established CHREs, reflecting a growing commitment to human rights education in the region.

Following the ceremonial signing, officials and stakeholders engaged in an action planning session focused on operationalizing the center and integrating human rights principles into LNU's instruction, research, and extension programs. Both institutions highlighted the partnership as a significant step towards advancing human rights education and promoting academic excellence anchored in social responsibility and respect for human dignity through the CHRE's establishment.