As the world commemorates International Human Rights Day today, Dec. 10, the Federation of Free Workers (FFW) has endorsed the passage of the Enhanced Human Rights Defenders Protection Bill (House Bill 77).
“We firmly believe that trade union rights are human rights. For individuals to live life fully, as complete and dignified persons, their human rights and freedoms must be protected. We urge Congress to enact the Human Rights Defenders Bill,” said Atty. Sonny Matula, president of the FFW.
Matula sought the support of an international delegation of trade unions attending the International Labor Organization (ILO) Regional Conference on the New Social Contract in Pasig City, stressing that the “proposed bill offers a robust framework for safeguarding human rights defenders.”
The labor leader and senatorial aspirant added: “We strongly advocate for the Right to Promote and Protect Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms as written on Sec. 5 of the Philippine Constitution—Everyone has the inherent right, individually or in association with others, to promote and strive for the protection and realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms at the local, national, regional, and international levels.”
“This provision ensures that defenders can actively champion human rights without hindrance or fear of retaliation from human rights violators and abusers,” said Matula.
NO SENATE COUNTERPART FOR HB77
House Bill 77 authored by Rep. Edcel Lagman in its present form, has already been passed not once but twice in previous Congresses of the House of Representatives, Matula said.
He added, however, that for a third reading to take place, the bill awaits its counterpart proposed legislation in the Senate. To date, no counterpart Senate bill has been formulated.
Once a bill has passed the third reading in the House of Representatives, it still needs a counterpart bill in the Senate that has also passed the third reading. Afterward, the two versions must be consolidated by a bicameral committee composed of representatives from both the House and the Senate. Once an agreed-upon version is finalized and approved, it will be returned to both chambers for ratification before being considered an “enrolled bill” and submitted to the President for approval into law.
Matula also noted, “The Right to Form Groups, Associations, and Organizations as written in Section 6: Everyone has the right to form, join, or associate with organizations—whether formal, informal, registered, or unregistered—for the purpose of advancing and striving for the realization of human rights and freedoms.”
“This provision safeguards the vital role of collective action in the pursuit of justice and equality,” he added.
TRIPARTITE DISCUSSION
Last Friday, the FFW facilitated a tripartite discussion on the HB77 with worker-, employer- and government- representatives from the National Tripartite Industrial Peace Council.
Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Bureau of Labor Relations Director Atty. Arturo Herbosa was on hand, together with Senior Human Rights Adviser Signe Poulsen of the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNOHCHR).
The discussion was conducted with the support of the Danish Trade Union Development Agency (DTDA) and the Delegation of the European Union.
During the discussion, the FFW strongly supported the Concept of Sanctuary. “HB77 envisions sanctuaries for human rights defenders or spaces that provide refuge and protection. These sanctuaries are established upon confidential notice to the proposed Human Rights Defenders Protection Committee to be established under the bill, ensuring safe havens for those at risk.”
The bill also provides Freedom from Defamation and Stigmatization as well as from intimidation or reprisal. “This is a crucial safeguard as it ensures that no individual shall face defamation, harassment, or stigmatization—whether offline or online or that no person shall face any form of intimidation or retaliation—due to their status or work as human rights defenders,” the FFW stated.
“The proposed law embodies our shared aspiration for a society where human rights defenders can operate freely and without fear, championing causes that benefit us all,” Matula concluded.
