BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — The Human Rights Defenders bill that the Makabayan bloc is seeking passage of is unneccesary, members of the government's anti-communist task force said. RELATED: 'Truth tagging' rhetoric reaches SC as anti-terror law debate resumesHuman Rights Defenders Protection CommitteeThe text of House Bill No. But Catura argued "human rights defenders is not a job title", claiming also that "what the UN has directly stated is that the government, police and military are the defenders of human rights." Mary Lawlor, UN special rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, in March called on Philippine legislators to make passage of a bill to protect human rights defenders a priority. "By prioritizing legislation to protect human rights defenders, the Philippines would join that group and send a clear message about their willingness to uphold their human rights obligations."

Source: Philippine Star November 10, 2021 17:22 UTC