STATE POLICIES

1.

Investigate, on its own or on complaint by any party, all forms of human

rights violations involving civil and political rights;

Section 11. The State values the dignity of every human person and guarantees
full respect for human rights.

2.

Adopt its operational guidelines and rules of procedure, and cite for
contempt for violations thereof in accordance with the Rules of Court;

3.

Provide appropriate legal measures for the protection of human rights of

all persons within the Philippines, as well as Filipinos residing abroad,
and provide for preventive measures and legal aid services to the underprivileged whose human rights have been violated or need protection;

4.

Exercise visitorial powers over jails, prisons, or detention facilities;

5.

Establish a continuing program of research, education, and information

to enhance respect for the primacy of human rights;

6.

Recommend to Congress effective measures to promote human rights

and to provide for compensation to victims of violations of human rights,
or their families;

7.

Monitor the Philippine Government's compliance with international treaty

obligations on human rights;

8.

Grant immunity from prosecution to any person whose testimony or

whose possession of documents or other evidence is necessary or
convenient to determine the truth in any investigation conducted by it or
under its authority;

9.

Request the assistance of any department, bureau, office, or agency in

the performance of its functions;

ARTICLE XIII
SOCIAL JUSTICE AND HUMAN RIGHTS
Section 1. The Congress shall give highest priority to the enactment of
measures that protect and enhance the right of all the people to human dignity,
reduce social, economic, and political inequalities, and remove cultural inequities
by equitably diffusing wealth and political power for the common good.
To this end, the State shall regulate the acquisition, ownership, use, and
disposition of property and its increments.
Section 2. The promotion of social justice shall include the commitment to create
economic opportunities based on freedom of initiative and self-reliance.
HUMAN RIGHTS
Section 17.
1.

2.

3.

4.

There is hereby created an independent office called the Commission on

Human Rights.
The Commission shall be composed of a Chairman and four Members
who must be natural-born citizens of the Philippines and a majority of
whom shall be members of the Bar. The term of office and other
qualifications and disabilities of the Members of the Commission shall be
provided by law.
Until this Commission is constituted, the existing Presidential Committee
on Human Rights shall continue to exercise its present functions and
powers.
The approved annual appropriations of the Commission shall be
automatically and regularly released.

Section 18. The Commission on Human Rights shall have the following powers
and functions:

10. Appoint its officers and employees in accordance with law; and
11. Perform such other duties and functions as may be provided by law.
Section 19. The Congress may provide for other cases of violations of human
rights that should fall within the authority of the Commission, taking into account
its recommendations.
Article 4 (intl Convention on Civil and Political Rights)

1 . In time of public emergency which threatens the life of the nation and the
existence of which is officially proclaimed, the States Parties to the present
Covenant may take measures derogating from their obligations under the present
Covenant to the extent strictly required by the exigencies of the situation,
provided that such measures are not inconsistent with their other obligations
under international law and do not involve discrimination solely on the ground of
race, colour, sex, language, religion or social origin.
2. No derogation from articles 6, 7, 8 (paragraphs I and 2), 11, 15, 16 and 18 may
be made under this provision.

3. Any State Party to the present Covenant availing itself of the right of
derogation shall immediately inform the other States Parties to the present
Covenant, through the intermediary of the Secretary-General of the United
Nations, of the provisions from which it has derogated and of the reasons by
which it was actuated. A further communication shall be made, through the same
intermediary, on the date on which it terminates such derogation.