Jacqueline Meija, Philippines CHR

Jacqueline Meija is one person who certainly knows how a national human rights commission works and what it can achieve.

A lawyer by training, she has worked with the Philippines Commission on Human Rights (CHR) since it was established almost 22 years ago and is currently its Executive Director.

“It’s a job I love very much because of the opportunity you have to make a positive difference in the broader community and also for the organisation and its people,” she says.

She says she enjoys the challenge of helping develop and implement new projects, such as the innovative Community Development Program that the CHR launched last year in partnership with the New Zealand Human Rights Commission.

The three year program aims to equip indigenous communities in different parts of the Philippines with the skills and capacity to monitor and respond to the key human rights challenges facing them.

“What is exciting about this initiative is that it is a learning process for everyone involved. We know that we don’t have all the answers, so we will be adopting a bottom-up approach, a participatory approach, when we’re working with the communities,” she said.

The key to making projects such as this work, says Jacqueline, is having open communication, building a sense of trust and ensuring that everyone involved in the project receives the support they need.

“Having a positive mindset is also very important,” she says. “I always say that failure is not an option so it is going to be a success.”

As well as working with Commissioners on issues of policies and programs, Jacqueline’s role as Executive Director includes managing an organisation comprising around 600 staff based in 15 regional offices and five sub-offices across the country.

“In this role you have to take charge of people, you have to think about how to build their capacity and how you can help them to develop and grow professionally,” she says.

“In many ways you work between the Commissioners and the staff and because of that you often have to take responsibility for your own professional development.

“That’s why the APF’s Senior Executive Officers Network is a really helpful initiative for me. It provides a avenue where I can talk with others who are in the same role as me, get their advice or support and also strategise together.”

In 2005 Jacqueline had a year away from the CHR to work as Project Manager for the Asia Pacific Forum’s Secretariat.

“It was a very exciting year and I took a lot of ideas back home with me to the Philippines,” she said.

“Things like how to monitor and evaluate projects, the importance of sharing information and expertise between national human rights institutions and the immense challenges facing NHRIs that are working in conflict and post-conflict situations.

“Another important thing I learnt while I was there is that you can be very effective if you have the right processes and procedures in place. There are only a few people in the APF secretariat but their job is enormous in terms of its scope and responsibility.

“A new group of Commissioners recently started at the CHR and we are currently reviewing our organisational structure. And so this is an important challenge for us: how can we achieve even better outcomes by being more efficient and effective.”