Makati city: The Marcos administration is making significant strides in its human rights agenda, as announced by the Special Committee on Human Rights Coordination (SCHRC). The committee emphasized measurable improvements in areas such as justice, migrant protection, and police accountability, presenting these as evidence of ongoing reforms that extend beyond mere rhetoric.
According to Philippines News Agency, the progress report was delivered during the 4th SCHRC meeting held on October 8 in Makati City. Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin chairs the committee under Administrative Order No. 22 (2024), with Undersecretary Severo Catura of the Presidential Human Rights Committee Secretariat presiding over the session.
Catura highlighted key developments in domestic reforms and institutional strengthening, affirming the government's commitment to advancing human rights in the country. He noted that most initiatives are in alignment with existing engagements with the United Nations and the Fourth Philippine Human Rights Plan.
Achievements spotlighted in the report include the Department of Justice's training of over 600 human rights officers and the processing of more than 25,000 records of persons deprived of liberty to expedite jail decongestion. In migrant protection, the Department of Migrant Workers secured a USD500 minimum wage for domestic helpers and reported a 92.15 percent takedown rate of 49,041 online trafficking and illegal recruitment posts through collaborations with technology platforms.
On the international stage, the Department of Foreign Affairs credited enhanced multilateral engagement for two significant accomplishments: the global adoption of the Manila Declaration on Seafarers' Human Rights and the removal of the Philippines from the United Nations list of states associated with children in armed conflict.
Police reforms were also addressed, with the Philippine National Police's Human Rights Affairs Office implementing uniform logbooks for detained suspects and improving digital tracking systems to prevent custodial abuse. The Anti-Terrorism Council trained 174 civil-military officers on rights-based counterterrorism protocols and extended policy dissemination to local governments.
Additional improvements were noted in drug policy, disability inclusion, labor protection, climate change, and social security coverage. The Presidential Legislative Liaison Office urged expedited passage of priority human rights measures.
The meeting also included separate engagements with the Commission on Human Rights, the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the European Union Delegation, Amnesty International, and key civil society networks.
