Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
‘Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. 5580

Introduced by Representatives NERI JAVIER COLMENARES, TEDDY A. CASINO,
LUZVIMINDA ULAGAN, and EMMI DE JESUS

AN ACT MANDATING THE OBSERVANCE OF 29 NOVEMBER OF EVERY YEAR
AS WOMEN HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS DAY

EXPLANATORY NOTE.

Human rights violations have continued to ptague the country despite govermment’s commitment
to respect and protect human rights through its being a signatory to international covenants.
Subsequently, a number of men and women have sprouted from the ranks of human rights group
and advocates coming from the different sectors in society to defend and protect human rights in
the country.

As stated under the United Nations Declaration on the Right und Responsibility of Individuals,
Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights

and Fundamental Freedoms (commonly known as the Declaration on Human Rights Defenders),

a buman rights defender is anyone working for the promotion and protection of human rights,
This broad definition encompasses professional as well as non-professional human rights
workers, volunteers, journalists, lawyers and anyone else carrying oul, even on an occasional
basis, a human rights activity.

Being human rights defenders (HRD), they have been subjected to hurassment, vilification.
persecution, enforced disapperances and even killings. Under the previous administration, there
were 476 HRD victims of extrajudicial killings and 68 HRD victims of enforced disappearances.

ino women have been active in the defense and protection of human rights in the country.
Their activism is vital as they effectively advance the tights of all people by challenging
inequality and repression and empower women to partake in the efforts for national
development. As women taking leading roles in human rights promotion, they challenge
traditional gender roles in a society that remains to be male-dominated.



‘Asa result, women human rights defenders are sometimes more vulnerable to hostility and
reprisals than their male colleagues. Because of their work on women’s rights, many of them
become targets by government agents, organized crime rings, extremist religious groups, and
paramilitary groups and suffer from sexual harassment and abuse while at their hands. Such
cases were those of Angie Ipong, Melissa Roxas, and those of desaparacidos Sherlyn Cadapan
and Karen Empefio. Speaking out against abuses of human rights and women's rights, they often
challenge ingrained cultural beliefs and attitudes about the role of women in the society. Because
the changing role of women is often highly contested within societies, when women take action
to defend their rights, they may be perceived as a threat to social stability and the status quo.

November 29 marks the anniversary of the opening of the First International Consultation on
Women Human Rights Defenders (WHRDs), organised in 2005 by several human rights
organisations in Colombo, Sti Lanka, where participants also declared it as the Jnternational Day
on Women Human Rights Defenders, Succeeding years saw the commemoration of various
international and national organizations of women worldwide led by the Intemational Coalition
of Women Human Rights Defenders, with the support of human rights bodies of the United
‘Nations. In the Philippines, women and human rights organizations commemorate the day by
articulating positions on violations on the rights of women humen rights defenders for the
government to address and resolve.

‘There is a need to inculcate the importance of respecting and defending human rights in the
country, This could be achieved through educational activities that focus on human rights,
gender and development issues and how everybody could become human rights defenders..
Declaring a National Consciousness Day on Women Human Rights Defenders every 29” of
‘November would aid and facilitate this endeavor.

Thus, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

Approved,
KCoss,—
NERI JAVIER COLMENARES DY A. CASINO
Bayan Muna Party-List yan Muna Party-List

J meme
(AN EMMI A. DE JESUS:
abriela Women’s Party Gabriela Women’s Party


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. 5580

Introduced by Representatives NER JAVIER COLMENARES, TEDDY A. CASINO,
LUZVIMINDA ILAGAN, and EMMI DE JESUS

Ee

AN ACF MANDATING THE OBSERVANCE OF 29 NOVEMBER OF EVERY YEAR
AS WOMEN HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS DAY

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:

Section 1. This Act shall be known as the “WOMEN HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS
DAY Act of 2011.”

Section 2. The State shall ensure that the perpetrators of extrajudicial killings, enforced
disappearances, vilification, harassments and other forms of human rights violation shall be
punished so that justice shall be served to the victims and their families.

The State shall intensify its efforts to respect and protect human rights, especially
women’s rights in the country. The State recognizes the participation of all sectors concemed
and shal] ensure the prevention of further human rights violations. Towards this end, the State
shall endeavor to raise awareness of the people regarding this issue.

The State shall respect and protect human tights defenders against any
violence, retaliation and intimidation as a consequence of their human rights work.

‘Section 3. In support of the international campaign to protect human rights defenders especially
women’s human rights defenders, and to urge government to address and resolve human rights
violations, the 29" of November of every year is hereby declared as National Consciousness Day
for the Protection of the Rights of Women Human Rights Defenders.

Section 4. The implementation of this Act shall be under the Commission of Human
Rights (CHR), in coordination with the Department of Education, and the Philippine

3


Commission on Women, which shalt create programs directed towards educating the people
about human rights and gender issues and the need to uphold these rights. Civil society
‘organizations shall also be tapped to assist the CHR in this endeavor.

monitor and 19 be aware of the violations againsi human rights and HRDs.

Section 5. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Officéat
Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of national circulation.

Approved,