Chapter VIII -Crucial in the NGO functions in the promotion and
protection of human rights are investigation,
The Role of Non-Governmental Organizations in the
Promotion and Protection of Human Rights
-Article 71 of the United Nations Charter expressly
mandates the Economic and Social Council to make
arrangements for consultation with non-governmental
organizations which are concerned with matters within
its competence.
Three Categories of Non-Governmental Organizations
a. those having basic interest in most of the activities of
the council
b. the bodies having particular competence on certain
aspects of the council’s work
c. the NGO’s concerned with building public opinion and
disseminating information
-NGO’s have increasingly played the formative role in
the initiation, drafting, interpretation, and appreciation
of international human rights treaties.
-the ultimate weapon of NGO’s is public opinion
-NGO’s are basically founded on membership of
individual persons and not of governments. The
relationship is between the individual who asserts his
rights against the government.
NGO as Ombusdman
-they function as official Ombudsman, safe guarding
human rights and calling the attention of the
government on violations through periodic reports etc,
they stimulate public opinions and initiation on the
foundation of foreign policy of country on matters
concerning the violation of human rights.
Monitoring of Government Compliance with Human
Rights Instruments
-NGO’s analyze national legislation and court decisions
in compliance with human rights treaties. They conduct
their own independent investigation on human rights
violation.
-Conclusions of International NGO’s in their monitoring
functions, for the compliance with international
instruments on human rights are usually not accepted
by most governments.
Prisoners of Conscience – persons condemned to hard
labor or arbitrary detention of political dissenters
-Most governments feel offended if they are reminded
by International NGO’s of failure to comply with human
rights instruments in their countries.
-As independent bodies, international NGOs generally
have more freedom to criticize the governments.
documentation, exposure, and denunciation of violation
of human rights.
Humanitarian Assistance to Human Rights Victims
-International non-governmental organizations on
human rights with adequate funding and resources
render some substantial assistance to victims of human
rights violations.
-Some NGOs assist in tracing disappeared persons,
visiting detainees in prisons, securing better conditions
of detained persons and providing material assistance
to their families.
Legal Assistance to Human Rights Victims
Legal Representation of:
a. persons arbitrarily arrested
b. preparation of documents to prove the innocence of
persons unjustly accused
c. petitions for the release of detainees
d. utilization of the complaints procedure
Assistance to the Monitoring Function of the Philippine
Commission on Human Rights
-Art XIII, Sec 18, par. 7 of the Philippine Constitution
mandates the Commission on Human Rights to monitor
the Philippine Government’s compliance with
international treaty obligation on human rights.
-The Philippine is a signatory to about 22 international
instruments on human rights duty bound to comply
with the provisions of said instruments.
- The NGOs are in a better position of identifying
violations on human rights committed by any branch of
the Philippine government.
Development Aggression – repression of economic
development of people due to industrialization and
construction of infrastructures, displacing large group of
people from their homes
Rank in Priority given by the GO and NGO by Lawyer
Repuyan-Bañez
1. International Covenant on Economic, Social, and
Cultural Rights
2. International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
3. Convention on the Rights of the Children
4. Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel,
Inhuman, Degrading Treatment and Punishment
5. Rights of the Migrant Workers and the members of
the family
7. Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of
Discrimination Against Women
8. Convention for the Suppression of the Traffic in
Persons and of the Exploitation of the Prostitution of
Others

9. International Convention on the Elimination of All

Forms of Racial Discrimination

11. Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees

-The enjoyment of civil and political rights is

meaningless if the people at large do not meet their
basic economic needs like food, shelter and clothing.

Order of Priority on Specific Rights

by Atty Rapuyan-Bañez

1. Right to Life

2. Right not to be Arbitrarily Arrested

3. Right not to be Tortured

4. Right to a Fair Trial

5. Right to Food and Clothing

6. Right Not to be Discriminated Against

7. Right to Education

8. Right to Fair Working Conditions

9. Right to Health Care

10. Right to Political Participation

11. Right to Freedom of Association

-The actual status of economic, social and cultural rights

is more pronounced in the rural areas and the
depressed sections in urban centers

Protection of the Rights of Indigenous Tribes

-Government and non-government human rights

workers have not given much importance to the human
rights abuses against indigenous cultural communities
living in distant, mountainous regions.

-Indigenous tribes are gradually being deprived of the

natural wealth and resources they have possessed since
time immemorial.

Legal Assistance and Services

-NGOs composed of volunteer lawyers have been

rendering free legal assistance and services to human
rights victims.