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“Community-based Dialogues on Human Rights Project” (CBD)
Community-based Dialogues Project Steering Committee holds dialogue with CHR Regional Directors

On August 5, 2016, the Project Steering Committee (PSC) of the “Community-based Dialogues on Human Rights Project” (CBD) held a one-day dialogue meeting with the regional and central office directors of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) who were gathered in Manila for its National Directorate Planning Session.

HSF

The CBD Project is a partnership among the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine National Police (PNP), Alternative Law Groups (ALG), Ninoy and Cory Aquino Foundation (NCAF), Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (PAHRA) and the CHR, with the support of the Hanns Seidel Foundation (HSF) of Germany.

The CBD PSC took the opportunity to meet with them and discuss the operationalization of the CBD in line with the passage of the CHR en banc resolution in December 2015 serving as convenor of the project at the local level (regional). With the en banc resolution (CHR Resolution [V] No. AM 2015-108), the CBD project has achieved one of its objectives to institutionalize the CBD mechanism towards the promotion and protection of human rights. The dialogue was led by CHR Commissioner Karen Gomez-Dumpit, focal commissioner for the CBD project.

HSF

As part of the objectives of the meeting, Atty. Marlon Manuel, ALG National Coordinator and Project Lead Person presented the “Results of the Impact Assessment on the Project,” after eight (8) years of implementation. He also briefed the participants on the Community-based Human Rights Dialogues Project, its evolution and future direction.

Among the key results of the impact assessment are: (i) positive impact of the CBD particularly in addressing specific concerns in relation to AFP and PNP operations in the different areas of the country; (ii) deepening relationship and closer cooperation between civilians and security sector (AFP/PNP); (iii) CBD methodology as platform for local monitoring mechanism; and (iv) pursue localization of CBD involving more stakeholders.

With CHR at the forefront of the local community-based human rights dialogues, the parameters, guidelines and working arrangements were discussed and agreed upon.

The CBD project will be entering its fourth phase for the period 2017-2019 towards expansion and institutionalization focusing on economic, social and cultural rights (ESCR) in relation to the role of the security sector.  For the past years, the dialogues centered on the promotion and protection of civil and political rights towards enhancing the relationship between the civilians and security forces. In this light, the overall international development framework of the Hanns Seidel Foundation (HSF) was introduced. The HSF has committed its continuing support to the project for the next phase.

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