New APF program supports Commission members

A new APF program has provided recently-appointed members of the Philippines Commission on Human Rights (PCHR) with an opportunity to discuss and reflect on their roles as Commissioners within a national human rights institution.

The Commissioner High Level Dialogue, held in Tagaytay, Manila on 13 and 14 January, included the participation of PCHR Chairperson, Ms Leila de Lima, and Commissioners Coco Quisumbing, Marvic Cardona and Norberto Dela Cruz.

The PCHR Executive Director, Ms Jaqueline Mejia-Veloria participated in the second day of the Dialogue.

The Dialogue included discussions on the implications of the Paris Principles, with a particular focus on the concepts of independence and pluralism, as well as strategies for effective engagement with the international human rights system, including UN treaty bodies, special procedures, the Human Rights Council and the Commission on the Status of Women.

The two day program, led by two former Human Rights Commissioners – Ms Paulynn Sicam (Philippines) and Mr Chris Sidoti (Australia) – also included discussions reflecting on the internal operations of the PCHR.

“Because of the many demands on their time, Commissioners often have little opportunity to discuss and reflect on their roles,” said Pip Dargan, Deputy Director of the APF Secretariat, who also attended the program.

“The Dialogue aims to provide them with a forum to discuss these issues as a group and to explore the goals they hope to achieve during their terms.”

The APF’s Commissioner High Level Dialogue can be tailored to meet the requirements of any national human rights institution and is developed in partnership with the institution to ensure that its specific needs are met.

Further information on this new program is available by contacting the APF.