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CHR CHAIRPERSON VIEWS ON VARIOUS HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUES

CHR Chairperson Leila M. de Lima on the Dr. Hayden Kho-Katrina Halili sex video scandal:

“A clear case of violation of a woman’s privacy and dignity. The posting was clearly malicious. I hate to say this but Filipino women clearly do not get enough respect, examples—the comment of actor Alec Baldwin about getting a Filipina mail order bride or any nationality he doesn’t care, to have more kids. Or cases of Filipinas raped by foreign service men. If Filipino men do not respect Filipina women, how can we expect a human rights culture, in a world where our women, including migrant workers will respect them?”

“Pornography is a form of violence against women, particularly psychological harm but also perpetuates image of women as objects thus encouraging other violence like trafficking and date rape. The issue here is not the fact that the personalities are well known. It is that porn happened.”

“Violates the Convention on Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women or CEDAW. It highlights the imperative need to enact the Magna Carta of Women to afford further protection to women against abuses, exploitation, and discrimination.“

 

CHAIRPERSON LEILA M. DE LIMA ON THE ISSUE OF THE GOVERNMENT’s GIVING CASH INCENTIVES TO TIPSTERS OF EJKS/POLITICAL KILLINGS, ETC.

“I’m ordinarily cold to ideas of financial incentive when it comes to addressing human rights violations (HRVs). But it could be useful. I must stress that human rights cases are different from corruption cases or ordinary crimes. Human rights witnesses are not motivated by money, but justice. Witnesses don’t cooperate and give information because of fear of retaliation, or distrust, wary of slow justice system. So risking personal security for nothing. So best thing for government to do is policy, really enjoin/enforce police and Department of Justice (DOJ) resolve and prosecute cases. Funds can very well apply to operations. Supplement more funds for prosecutors, hire additional lawyers and paralegals. More importantly, strengthen witness protection program, CHR should have supplemental funds like the EJK funds allotted in 2007. The recommendations of Alston and Melo Commission are along these lines. I also agree with Senator Escudero’s view that resolution of EJK cases, especially the high profile ones, entail serious intel work. The investigative skills and forensic capacity of CHR investigators need to be enhanced.