CHR praises bill meant to make conditions in jails more humane

This photo taken on March 27, 2020 shows prisoners in cramped conditions in the crowded courtyard of Quezon city jail. (File photo by Maria TAN / AFP)

MANILA, Philippines — Commission on Human Rights (CHR) hails a bill that seeks to make conditions inside correctional facilities more humane.

This is the proposed Jails and Prisons Monitoring Act of 2023 filed in March by Senator Raffy Tulfo.

The measure also wants to put in place the culture of transparency and accountability when human rights violations are committed inside the jails.

“CHR stresses that preserving the human rights and dignity of all persons, including PDLs (persons deprived of liberty), is a fundamental human rights guarantee […],” the commission said in a statement on Wednesday.

“SB (Senate bill) 2031 reiterates these human rights commitments by the State by improving transparency in jails and places of detention, as well as improving the pursuit of accountability of duty-bearers in cases of human rights violations,” it added.

The measure will mandate the installation of closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras inside common areas, entry and exit points, investigation areas, and the general perimeter of prisons.

It also seeks to give protection to the jail personnel and enforce better policies inside the facilities.

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