CHR: Report on Philippines’ human rights crisis should be taken ‘constructively’

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MANILA, Philippines — The 2018 Human Rights Watch (HRW) report saying human rights crisis intensified in the Philippines must be taken “constructively,” rights body said.

“We hope that these kinds of reports be taken constructively with the welfare of all Filipinos in mind, especially the vulnerable and marginalized,” Commission on Human Rights (CHR) Spokeswoman Jacqueline de Guia said in a statement on Saturday night.

This came after HRW released a report on Thursday showing that human rights crisis deepened in 2018 in the Philippines due to the continued bloody drug war.

With this, CHR said it recognized the “independence of HRW in coming up with such assessment.”

The rights body also noted that it has been urging the Philippine government to address the human rights violations in the country.

“HRW raises concerns that we have likewise urged the government to address sincerely and with expediency, including greater transparency and accountability for the deaths allegedly linked to the government’s anti-drug campaign; better protection of our children, in light of proposals, such as lowering the minimum age of criminal liability; upholding gender rights with respect to the concerns of both women and members of the LGBTQIA+ community; and attacks against democratic institutions, including human rights defenders,” de Guia said. /jpv

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