goes to human rights protection page
links to human rights promotion page
link to human rights linkages development programs
link to special programs page
 
links to home page
links to about CHRP page
links to about human rights page
links to programs and services page
links to news and reports page
links to links page
links to contact us page
links to site map
      
               
goes back to purificacion c valera quisumbing profile
links to dominador n calamba II profile
COMMISSIONER CECILIA RACHEL V. QUISUMBING
 

Over the past two decades, she has leveraged her backgrounds in journalism, law and international affairs into a wide array of work, with an emphasis on social and development issues, human rights, and human security. Immediately prior to being appointed as Commissioner of the Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines, she was Executive Director of the Presidential Human Rights Committee, with a rank of Undersecretary. As such, she led the preparations for the Universal Periodic Review and launched the Preparatory Workshop towards a Consultative Process for the Formulation of The 2nd National Human Rights Action Plan and Program for the Philippines.

While taking up Masters in International Affairs at the Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs, she co-developed a course on human rights and communications. Currently, she is also a lecturer at the San Beda School of Law.

Though best-known as an anchorwoman for CNBC-Asia, she has also worked as an advocate and project manager for organizations such as the WHO (HIV/AIDS), UNHCR (voluntary repatriation), ADB (water), the Office of the President of the Republic of the Philippines (human rights), and the Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines.

Previous Occupations

  • Deputy Minister, Office of the President of the Philippines
  • Executive Director, Presidential Human Rights Committee (February 2007 – May 2008)
  • Adviser, Philippine Mission to the United Nations, New York (2005-2007)
  • Deputy to the Chairman, Global Conference on Building a Sustainable Peace
  • Columnist, Manila Times (2006)
  • Project Consultant, Philippine Commission on Human Rights (2002)

RESUME OF RELEVANT WORK

Human Rights, Development, and International Affairs

  • Managing Director, Paradigm Initiative (2001)
  • Course Consultant, Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs (2005)
  • Research and Project Consultant, Various Clients (2004-2005)
  • Project Manager, Columbia University ’s Public Interest Law Initiative (2004)
  • Chairman, Water Development Partners Panel, Third World Forum (2003)
  • Project Director, Sea-Change Partners (2000-2003)
  • Project Manager, the ILO and the Philippine Department of Labor (1991-1992)
  • Project Manager, the WHO and the Philippine Department of Health (1990-1991)
  • Information Officer, U.N. Information Center , Manila (1988-1992)
  • Project Manager, Philippine Department of Interior and Local Government (1991)
  • Delegate, Human Rights Delegation to Europe , Office of the President (1989)

Journalism

  • News Anchor/Editor, CNBC-Asia (1994-1999)
  • TV News Anchor/Reporter, RPN-9 Philippines (1989-1994)
  • Freelance Correspondent and Producer
  • Documentary Producer: The Bulwark of Justice (2002); Congress (1987); Homecomings (1990)
  • News Anchor/Editor, United Broadcasting Network (1983-1986)

Private Sector Consultancies

  • Conducted training for companies, international organizations and public sector on media strategy and crisis communications. Clients include: BMW, Oracle Corp., Coca-Cola, and Japan Tobacco
  • Helped develop a multi-media production company for an international holding company, Hotel Properties, Limited.
  • Produced audio-visual materials highlighting the use of e-business solutions around Asia , for Oracle Corporation.
  • Chaired sessions at regular conferences on the economic and political issues of Indonesia , for political risk consultancy, Van Zorge-Heffernan.
  • Organized participation, logistics and production of information materials, and chaired two sessions on women newsmakers, and on international coverage of the Philippines post-Marcos, for international news industry organization, NewsWorld.

Legal Aid

  • Legal Aid Officer, U.P. Office of Legal Aid (1992-1993)

RELEVANT WRITTEN WORK

  • “Africa’s Options on Water Privatization: Human Costs and Human Rights Implications,” the Newsletter of the Institute of African Studies , 2005.
  • “Privatization of Water Supply Systems: Implications for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in a Global Era,” 2004.
  • “Human Rights Values in the Provisions of the Constitutions of Southeast Asian Countries,” 2003.
  • “A Filipina Broadcaster in Singapore,” reflections on the social and economic factors of being a woman, a professional, and a Philippine citizen in Singapore society, in From America to Africa edited by Lorna Kalaw-Tirol, 2000.
  • “Lost in the System,” an examination of the laws, judicial procedures and programs affecting the access to justice of child victims of household sexual abuse in the Philippines, in The Public’s Eye, published by the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism, 1994.

EDUCATION

  • Masters in International Affairs, School of International and Public Affairs, Columbia University (2005)
  • Executive MBA, Golden Gate University (1998)
  • Bachelor of Laws, University of the Philippines College of Law (1993)
  • Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, University of the Philippines (1986)

FELLOWSHIP AND GRANTS

  • Fulbright Scholarship to Columbia University (2003-2005)
  • Freidrich Eibert Steiftung Fellowship for Broadcast Production (1985-1986)

RECENT RELEVANT CONFERENCES

  • Preparatory Workshop Towards A Consultative Process for the Formulation of the 2nd National Human Rights Action Plan & Program, Sponsored by the UNDP and the Asia Foundation, 19 May 2008
  • Seminar on Strategies for Promoting Democracy, Sponsored by the UN Democracy Fund, 18 July 2006
  • Roundtable on the Role of Human Rights Institutions in Armed Conflict and Post-Conflict Situations, sponsored by the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, June 2006.

SPECIAL SKILLS

  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills, digital video production, conference and event organization, media skills and negotiation skills training, education and advocacy materials production, experience in multi-cultural organizations, experience living and working in developing countries and areas affected by conflict.

LANGUAGES

  • English, French, Filipino, Bahasa Indonesia, Spanish

PERSONAL INFORMATION

  • Born on November 22, 1966 in Pasay City
  • Daughter of Honorable Associate Justice Leonardo A. Quisumbing of the Supreme Court and Former CHR Chairperson Purificacion C. V. Quisumbing