CHRP to Manage GOP-UNDP Democratic Governance Programme

CHRP Chairperson Purificacion C. Valera Quisumbing presents a token of appreciation to Professor Clarence Dias.

      The Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines (CHRP) has accepted the invitation to act as Implementing Partner (IP) of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) for the Fostering Democratic Governance Programme, under the GOP-UNDP Country Programme Action Plan (CPAP) for CPAP period 2007-2009.

      The UNDP and NEDA as Country Programme Board (CPB), came to a decision to shift to a human rights-based governance programme specifically addressing pressing human rights issues, strengthening human rights institutions, building constituencies for the advancement of human rights and gender rights; mainstreaming human rights and gender rights in the GOP-UNDP portfolios. Given this shift in focus and the corresponding mandate of the Commission to protect and promote human rights, the Commission is considered the most appropriate institution to be the new IP for the remaining period of the Fostering Governance Programme.

      As the new Implementing Partner (IP), CHRP has been conducting a series of consultative meetings with NEDA and UNDP officials, including UN Resident Coordinator Neleema Noble and UNDP Resident Representative Kyo Naka in the formulation of the refocused governance portfolios. The CHRP also conducted brainstorming meetings with Professor Clarence Dias of the UNDP Regional Center Bangkok Mission on Human Rights in Governance Reform who came for a mission to assess the mainstreaming of human rights in governance and assist in the formulation of the Governance Annual Work Plan for 2007 and prioritization of initiatives for 2008-2009.