The event also marked the soft inauguration of several new CHR facilities located at its Central Office in Diliman, Quezon City. These include the CHR In-House Shelter, a livable sanctuary for those at high risk of suffering human rights violations; a Multi-Purpose Safe Space, which ensures privacy for gender based violence victims when providing testimonies; a Human Rights Learning Center; and the newly installed CHR-NCR and CHR-IVB regional offices.

Besides creating these new infrastructures in Metro Manila, the Commission also constructed six new regional offices across Regions 9, 4B, NCR, 4A, and 11 with GOJUST’s support. These will allow the CHR to expand access to its services nationwide to improve its capacity to provide quality attention to citizens needing its services. Under GOJUST, the CHR has also strengthened the promotion of human rights at the local level, working with 62 local government units (LGUs) to institutionalize policies on Human Rights, Gender and Development, and Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI).

The EU’s and Spain’s support also allowed the CHR to train 294 investigators, lawyers, and security officers on human rights-based investigations, which have made possible for the institution to successfully resolve 7,277 backlog cases and provide assistance to 14,255 Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDLs). As part of its detention monitoring efforts, under GOJUST, the CHR has conducted 2,672 visits to jails and other detention facilities, including highly congested ones, and issued human rights situation reports with recommendations, particularly on the conditions of women in detention. 

In addition, with GOJUST’’s support, the CHR has launched two digital platforms:  the Management Information System Monitoring Outlet (MISMO) makes the CHR’s services more accessible by allowing citizens to file and tracking of human rights violations complaints. The Places of Deprivation of Liberty Visitation Information System (PVIS) allows the CHR  to assess detention conditions and support reform.

CHR Chairperson Richard Paat Palpal-latoc emphasized the significance of the moment, stating, “This moment is not just an ending—it is a renewal of our promise to protect human rights through concrete action. With the support of GOJUST and our partners, we’ve been able to plant seeds for a stronger, more inclusive CHR. These new facilities are physical manifestations of that commitment.” 

EU Ambassador to the Philippines, H.E. Massimo Santoro, also remarked, “I am very proud to be able to say that we have accompanied the efforts of the current Commission under the leadership of Chairman Palpal-Latoc. Today, as we have done for over fifteen years, I would like to reaffirm our partnership with the Commission on Human Rights.”

Ambassador to the Philippines from the Kingdom of Spain H.E. Miguel Utray Delgado stated that “GOJUST II has been crucial in enhancing the capacity of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), safeguarding civil and political rights, preventing human rights violations and making justice accessible to all, especially the marginalized and vulnerable sectors of society”.

As the GOJUST II Project officially concludes, the CHR reaffirms its commitment to advancing a future where the rights of every Filipino are upheld, respected, and realized—through systems that serve, spaces that protect, and partnerships that endure.

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With a total grant of EUR 19 million (Php 1.1 billion) over a period of four years, the EU’s GOJUST programme supports the Government of the Republic of the Philippines’ efforts to improve access to justice for all Filipinos. 

The first component of GOJUST works on Justice reform with the Philippine Supreme Court, the Department of Justice, and the Department of the Interior and Local Government to develop more responsive and accountable justice services in the country. 

In addition, GOJUST supports the Commission on Human Rights’ own initiatives to strengthen its capacity to implement the constitutional mandate to protect and promote human rights in the Philippines. This component is co-funded with the Spanish Agency for Development Cooperation (AECID), which contributes an additional EUR 1 million (Php  59.47 million).

For more information and media inquiries, please contact: 

Commission on Human Rights: communications@chr.gov.ph

European Union Delegation: Thelma Gecolea, Email: Thelma.GECOLEA@eeas.europa.eu

Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation: oce.filipinas@aecid.es

GOJUST Human Rights Project: gojusthrp@gmail.com