COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS OF THE PHILIPPINES INPUTS ON ACCESS TO JUSTICE OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES IN THE PHILIPPINES 3 MAY 2017 1. The Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines (herewith the Commission)1 submits to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), its inputs relative to access to justice of persons with disabilities in the Philippines. 2. This submission took into consideration local and international reports from government, civil society, the media, and international non-government organizations. This submission also utilized the Commission’s own documentation of independent monitoring activities and statements on the rights of persons with disabilities, which were subjected to the internal deliberations of the Commission En Banc. The Commission’s responses to the OHCHR questionnaire on access to justice of persons with disabilities: 1. Does your country have laws, policies or guidelines on access to justice, at any level of government, which ensure persons with disabilities, particularly women and children with disabilities: a. to participate in judicial and administrative proceedings on an equal basis with others in their role as witness, juror, complainant, defendant or other, including through the provision of procedural and age-appropriate accommodations (please identify and share the text of those provisions);  Persons with disabilities in the judicial system are also equal in rights with others under existing legislation. The Philippine Constitution guarantees “full respect for human rights” and “equal protection of the laws” to all persons. These guarantee applies to all cases of discrimination and exclusion. “The State values the dignity of every human person and guarantees full respect for human rights.” (Philippine Constitution. Art. II Sec. 11) 1 As the National Human Rights Institution (NHRI) of the Philippines, the Commission has the mandate vested by the 1987 Philippine Constitution and the Paris Principles to address, promote and protect the full range of human rights including civil and political rights, and economic, social and cultural rights. We have the mandate to regularly report on human rights situations and violations, and recommend steps on advancing the realization of human rights and dignity of all.

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