University Center for Human rights education – To promote and protect human rights in the barangay level, the University Center for Human Rights (HR) Education based at MMSU conducted an orientation seminar for Barangay Human Rights Action Officers (BHRAO) in Brgy. San Mateo, Batac City and in Brgy. Paltit, Badoc, March 27.

Eighty-one barangay officials, tanods, health workers, and Women in Development and Rural Improvement Club officers attended the seminar.

Ms. Sherlyn Nicolas discussed HR definition and classification in Brgy. San Mateo, Batac City, while Dr. Leah Ballesteros discussed the same in Brgy. Paltit, Badoc. According to them, human rights “are those which are inherent in nature and which we cannot live without.” Human rights, they said, are classified according to source, aspect of life, recipient, and derogability. They emphasized the natural/moral right of every individual which is God-given and simply stated as right to life, dignity, and self-development.

On the other hand, Ms. Nataliza Llapitan spoke on the Magna Carta for Women (MCW) or commonly called “Women’s Rights”. The MCW seeks to eliminate discrimination against women by recognizing, protecting, fulfilling, and promoting their rights, especially those in the marginalized sector. She focused on Rules IV and V (Rights and Empowerment of Women/Marginalized Sector) which aim to protect women or the marginalized group from all forms of violence and recognize their right to participate and have equal access to development including health services.

Ms. Bella G. Ramos further talked about the Barangay Human Rights Action Center (BHRAC), a nationwide program for human rights protection and advocacy at the barangay level. A joint program of the CHR and the DILG, BHRAC serves as the complaint processing, information/education, coordination and referral, and mobilizing unit of human rights concerns and activities in the barangay level. The BHRAC is manned by a BHRAO.

The BHRAO qualifications and responsibilities were presented by Ms. Marjorie P. Garcia. She said that a BHRAO must not be an elected/appointed government official or a supporter of any political activity, and must be committed to the cause of human rights. According to her, a BHRAO is tasked to receive complaints, provide HR information education, do coordination and referral services, and conduct mobilization activities. (With report from Prof. Ma. Angelica O. Salas)