9 I. Mandate of the Commission The Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines (CHRP) is an independent National Human Rights Institution (NHRI)12 created by the 1987 Philippine Constitution and organized under Executive Order No. 163, series of 1987. It is constitutionally mandated to: 1. Investigate, on its own or on complaint by any party, all forms of human rights violations involving civil and political rights;13 2. Recommend to Congress effective measures that promote human rights and provide for compensation to survivors of human rights violations, or their families;14 3. Monitor the Philippine government’s compliance with international treaty obligations on human rights;15 4. Provide appropriate legal measures for the protection of human rights of all persons within the Philippines, as well as Filipinos residing abroad; and provide for preventive measures and legal aid services to the underprivileged whose human rights have been violated or need protection;16 and 5. Adopt its operational guidelines and rules of procedure.17 II. Matter Before the Commission Petitioners posit that, under both domestic and international law, private enterprises, not just States, have an obligation to respect and protect human rights. Underscoring the anthropogenic character of climate change and the latter’s adverse impacts on human rights, Petitioners pray this Commission declare Respondents–by extracting, producing, and selling fossil fuels–accountable for either impairing, infringing, abusing, or violating human rights. 12 United Nations General Assembly, Principles Relating to the Status of National Institutions (The Paris Principles), G.A. Res. 48/134, U.N. Doc. A/RES/48/134 (20 December 1993). 13 Phil. Const. art. XIII, § 18 (1). 14 Phil. Const. art. XIII, § 18 (6). 15 Phil. Const. art. XIII, § 18 (7). 16 Phil. Const. art. XIII, § 18 (3). 17 Phil. Const. art. XIII, § 18 (2).