The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) Region 7 has urged local government units (LGUs) in Central Visayas to establish Human Rights Action Centers (HRACs) in their areas.

This is in line with the CHR and Department of the Interior and Local Government Joint Memorandum Circular No. 1, series of 2014 entitled, “Mainstreaming Human Rights through the Rule of Law and Access to Justice at the Levels of Provinces, Cities, Municipalities, and Barangays,” which mandates the establishment of HRACs in barangays, municipalities, cities, and provinces.

CHR-7 chief of Policy, Promotions, and Advocacy Division, Jose Augustus G. Villano, said LGUs are required to establish human rights committees and action centers to address human rights issues, including violations, promotion and advocacy.

However, data from CHR-7 shows a significant gap in the establishment of HRACs in Central Visayas.

According to Villano, out of 16 cities in the region, only three have established HRACs, namely, Mandaue City and Lapu-Lapu City in Cebu and Bais City in Negros Oriental.

Of the 116 towns, only three have complied, namely, Catmon, Pinamungajan and Daanbantayan in Cebu.

For the barangays, only the following have established HRACs: 27 in Mandaue City, eight in Lapu-lapu City, and 20 each in Catmon and Daanbantayan towns, all in Cebu. (PIA)