MANILA, Philippines – The European Union (EU) and Commission on Human Rights (CHR) formally concluded their joint human rights program, marking its achievements and collective efforts for human rights defenders, local governments, civil society organizations and international partners toward a more rights-based justice system in the country.
The program, aptly called Governance in Justice Programme: The Human Rights Project (GOJUST II-HR), is in partnership with the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), the EU Delegation to the Philippines stated.
As participants and partners wrapped up the program, the event also marked the “soft inauguration” of several new CHR facilities at its Central Office in Diliman, Quezon City.
“These include the CHR In-House Shelter, a liveable 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,” the EU mentioned.
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.
“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,” CHR Chairperson Richard Paat Palpal-latoc said.
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 Delegation also mentioned that both Spain and its support for the program allowed the CHR to train 294 investigators, lawyers, and security officers on human rights-based investigations.
According to the EU, this 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,” EU emphasized.
Through GOJUST, the CHR also launched two digital platforms: the Management Information System Monitoring Outlet (MISMO) making 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.
In his remarks during the closing ceremony, EU Ambassador to the Philippines, H.E. Massimo Santoro reaffirmed “our partnership with the Commission on Human Rights.”
“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,” Santoro stated.
H.E. Massimo Santoro, EU Ambassador to the Philippines, delivers his remarks during the closing ceremony of the GOJUST program, held on May 16, 2025, at Park Inn by Radisson North EDSA in Quezon City. Photo courtesy of EU Ambassador to the PH X account.
Meanwhile, Ambassador to the Philippines from the Kingdom of Spain H.E. Miguel Utray Delgado underscored the role of GOJUST in “enhancing the capacity of the CHR.”
“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,” Delgado said.
The total grant is estimated at EUR 19 million (PHP 1.1 billion) over a period of four years, with the EU’s GOJUST programme supporting the Philippines’ efforts to improve access to justice for all Filipinos, the EU stated.
In addition, support for the CHR’s initiatives from the EU is co-funded with the AECID, with a contribution of an additional EUR 1 million (PHP 59.47 million).
