DOJ convenes 3-day Human Rights Summit

Human rights guarantees under the controversial Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 will be among the issues that will be taken up during the three-day Human Rights Summit to be convened starting on Dec. 7, by the Department of Justice (DOJ).

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra told reporters that experts on the promotion and protection of human rights would also speak at the forum to be held at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City.

Asked if complaints about recent incidents of human rights abuses like the killing of National Democratic Front consultant Randall Echanis, the “desecration” of the body of alleged New People’s Army medic Jevilyn Cullamat and accusations of Red-tagging would be be taken up, Guevarra replied: “This project was conceived months ago. It is possible though that any of the participants may take up more recent specific incidents as part of the discussions.”

Guevarra said the summit was one of several projects proposed by the DOJ as part of the joint program on technical cooperation between the United Nations and Philippine government pursuant to the latest resolution of the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC).

The UNHRC resolution approving the program for technical cooperation with the Philippine government was adopted in October after Guevarra spoke before the council in June. INQ