CHR pushes to declare Iloilo City a Human Rights City

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) is pushing to formally recognize Iloilo City as a “Human Rights City” in Western Visayas, to embed human rights-based governance at the local level.

The initiative was discussed during a May 4 meeting between CHR representatives and Iloilo City Mayor Raisa Treñas-Chu as part of ongoing coordination efforts toward the proposed declaration.

“This reflects our shared vision of building a community where every person is respected, protected, and empowered, and we continue to work together to achieve this important goal for a more just and compassionate City of Iloilo,” Treñas-Chu said.

The mayor said the city government’s preparations for the declaration are grounded in the belief that “every Ilonggo deserves dignity, inclusion, and protection of their rights.”

The meeting followed earlier capacity-building efforts, including a March 10–12 orientation workshop in Iloilo City on localizing the Philippine Human Rights Plan, which involved various city government offices.

The workshop aimed to strengthen the integration of human rights principles into local governance, policies, and programs.

In its submission to U.N. Human Rights Council Resolution 51/12 in October 2023, the CHR described a human rights city as a community “morally and legally governed by human rights principles and approach.”

The CHR describes the Human Rights City initiative as a global effort to localize human rights by recognizing the critical role of local governments in promoting and protecting fundamental rights.

The initiative is rooted in a 2015 framework adopted by the U.N. General Assembly, which seeks to mainstream a human rights-based approach across all aspects of local governance.

To support the initiative, the CHR is collaborating with the U.N. Joint Programme 2021–2024 and the Raoul Wallenberg Institute on Human Rights to develop indicators and criteria for prospective Human Rights Cities.

The partnership also includes capacity-building sessions for CHR personnel and expanded engagement with the international Human Rights Cities Network.

The CHR also noted that the development of Human Rights Cities is being linked to the strengthening of Barangay Human Rights Action Centers.

The Barangay Human Rights Action Centers serve as grassroots referral mechanisms for human rights violations and aim to improve access to CHR services in remote communities.

The CHR said the framework also addresses local governance challenges, including budget constraints, weak institutional structures, and traditional practices that may conflict with international human rights standards.

While several Philippine cities have engaged in preparatory discussions, no local government unit in the country has yet been formally declared a Human Rights City by the CHR.

In 2025, the CHR also identified Cebu City as a potential pilot site for the initiative in Central Visayas.