Educate and promote the importance of human life.
In line with the recent consecutive killings in Eastern Visayas, it is timely for the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) to visit the region to spread awareness and let the people know that CHR is taking steps against these atrocities.
The organization held their two-day “Lakbay Karapatan Tungo sa Kamalayan” (LaKaRan) caravan in Region 8 municipalities last March 20-21 at Oriental Hotel, Palo, Leyte.
Village officials from various municipalities were trained on the basic concept and principles of human rights and their role in strengthening human rights programs at the local level.
“The idea is for our community officials to be capacitated to receive HR-related complaints and eventually refer them to us or the Philippine National Police for appropriate action,” CHR Chairperson Richard Palpal-latoc.
The activities also included the Barangay Human Rights Action Officers (BHRAO) Summit, also attended by officials from Tanauan town which is one of the two local government units in Eastern Visayas that has established a BHRAO through a local ordinance.
With this, CHR encourages other communities to follow and start their own BHRAO.
For safety of the media
The visit also highlighted the presentation of "alisto." An alert mechanism that could directly respond to attacks and threats against media workers.
Palpal-latoc also assured the media practitioners that it will be a safe space for journalists to report human rights violations.
"As soon as we receive the report, we will immediately conduct an investigation."
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