ANNEX B HUMAN RIGHTS BULLETIN ON CHR-X SUPPORT TO THE PASSAGE OF THE CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY DIVERSITY AND EQUALITY ORDINANCE (CDEO) The position of CHR-X is premised on the following International Human Rights Law and/or Standards and that is: [a]ll human beings are are born free and equal both in dignity and in rights, and that everyone is entitled to the enjoyment of human rights without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.27 st The Commission on Human Rights X (CHR X) on the 21 of January 2020 has issued a Human Rights Bulletin on the ‗CHR‘S POSITION ON THE ANTI-DISCRIMINATION ON THE BASIS OF SEXUAL ORIENTATION, GENDER IDENTITY AND EXPRESSION BILL‘. This is primarily anchored on the role of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) as Gender and Development Ombud (Gender Ombud) under the Magna Carta of Women. More importantly, on CHRs mandate under the 1987 Constitution to recommend to congress effective measures to promote and protect human rights of all. The proposed Cagayan de Oro City Diversity and Equality Ordinance (CDEO) when read in its entirety has provided the local government of the City of Cagayan de Oro a codification of both international and national laws that promotes and protects the rights of all in just one ordinance. The proposed ordinance does not create entirely new rights and/or obligations. However, it is both a recognition and reiteration of the well-founded standards, norms and existing laws internationally i.e., as a state party to various United Nations Conventions and domestically on the basis of our national laws. The passage of this ordinance will serve as the epitome of the operationalization of the mandate under the Local Government Code i.e., the ‗General Welfare Clause‘ where the local government can legislate, pass ordinances and provide interventions based on the local context. In this light, the CHR-X would like to inform the body that the CHR has previously submitted its position paper28 on Senate Bill No. 1271, entitled ―Anti-Discrimination on the Basis of Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression.‖ Said bill seeks to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual 29 orientation and gender identity or expression (SOGIE). Grounding on the basic precepts of respect for human dignity, equality and non-discrimination, this Office reiterates the CHR‘s position supporting the passage of the local ordinance on the basis of SOGIE in line with the Cagayan de Oro City‘s Diversity and Equality Ordinance (CDEO). The CHR‘s stand reads, and thus quoted:30 The Philippines is considered as one of the most ―gay-friendly‖ countries in the Asia Pacific region, according to the 2013 Pew Research Center survey.31 The survey showed that 73% of adult Filipinos agreed that homosexuality should be accepted. Another survey conducted by Social Weather Station in 2013 32 showed that 85% of Filipinos support the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, 27 Articles 1, Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). Position Paper on the Anti-Discrimination on the Basis of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity of Expression Bill (Senate Bill No. 1271) 29 Ibid. 30 Ibid. 31 The Global Divide on Homosexuality, Pew Research Center, June 4, 2013. https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2013/06/04/the-globaldivide-on-homosexuality/ 32 SWS Special Report: 85% says gays and lesbians should be protected against discrimination, Social Weather Stations February 06, 2015. https://www.sws.org.ph/swsmain/artcldisppage/?artcsyscode=ART-20151214104358 28 GAD January-May 2020 Situation Report CHR-X Page 16 of 20