Special investigator Jesus Cañete of the Commission on Human Rights in Negros Oriental yesterday said there is need to put more teeth to the CHR in terms of prosecution.

“As of now, the CHR does not have prosecutorial powers. This program should change that, and the prosecution of violators should be its end point,” Cañete said.

He said he welcomes the move to draft the country's National Human Rights Action Plan and Program that will set the roadmap for human rights work for the next five years.

Cañete said the NHRAPP is a good development for CHR in its aim of promoting and protecting human rights in the country.

He also said he hopes that the NHRAPP will initiate changes in the country's criminal justice system, specifically in prosecution.

“This program should work more to ensure the security of CHR investigators while on the field,” he said.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo recently directed the Presidential Human Rights Committee PHRC to begin drafting the country's NHRAPP which, she said, will contain, among others, steps in furthering the promotion of the rights of children, women and other vulnerable sectors.

The country has also committed to strengthening CHR to be at par with other first world countries.

She said that one of the hallmarks of a modern society are strong and stable institutions, and one of these institutions is the CHR.*RG

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