MANILA, Philippines: PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has issued an Administrative Order creating a human rights "super body" composed of key government agencies, Malacañang said on Sunday.

Signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin on behalf of the President on May 8, 2024, AO No. 22 aims to enhance the mechanisms for the promotion and protection of human rights in the Philippines.

Headed by the Office of the Executive Secretary, the special committee will have the Justice secretary as co-chairman, while the secretaries of the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of the Interior and Local Government will be among its members.

The issuance of the circular highlights the significance of maintaining and intensifying the accomplishments of the United Nations for the Joint Program on Human Rights (UNJP) through the institutionalization of a strong and healthy multi-stakeholder process for the promotion and protection of human rights in the Philippines.

The UNJP is set to expire on July 31.

"It is imperative to sustain and enhance the accomplishments under the UNJP, which is set to expire on 31 July 2024, through institutionalization of a robust multi-stakeholder process for the promotion and protection of human rights in the Philippines," AO No. 22 said.

The Philippines is a State Party to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

This prompted the creation of the Presidential Human Rights Committee (PHRC) to comply with its obligations to international human rights groups. The PHRC secretariat will serve as the secretariat of the special committee, which is tasked to provide the technical, administrative, and operational support to the committee "in-charge of sustaining initiatives and accomplishments of the UNJP in the areas of law enforcement, criminal justice, and policy-making."

The special committee will conduct investigation, gather data on alleged human rights violations and expand civic space and engagement with the private sector among other tasks.

The "super body" will also "monitor and ensure effective implementation of government policies and programs aimed at upholding and protecting human rights of persons deprived of liberty, particularly in guaranteeing that no one is subjected to torture and other cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment of punishment."