KIDAPAWAN CITY, Cotabato Province (PIA) -- The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) has resumed its nationwide human rights education caravan by holding one in Kidapawan City.

The caravan, dubbed “LaKaRan” or Lakbay Karapatan Tungo sa Kamalayan, aims to educate, enhance awareness, and highlight the essential role of communities, civil society organizations, and various sectors in the journey to respecting, protecting, and fulfilling human rights.

CHR Chairperson Richard Palpal-latoc said the caravan reaffirms the CHR’s unwavering commitment to taking its services directly to local communities nationwide.

“Our mission is not only to enhance the accessibility and cost efficiency of the Commission’s services to the public, particularly those geographically distant from our main office or regional offices, but also to impart a profound understanding of the inalienable rights each of us is entitled to, deserves, and should enjoy,” he further said.

Part of the caravan is the Barangay Human Rights Action Officers (BHRAO) Summit, involving city officials, the City Human Rights Action Team, and barangay officials.

The summit included a lecture seminar on the essential mandates of the Commission to help the participants gain understanding of human rights through a session on basic concepts and principles of human rights and learn about the Barangay Human Rights Action Center (BHRAC) and its role in strengthening human rights at the local level.

It also highlighted the pivotal role of the Barangay Human Rights Action Team in receiving complaints and reporting incidents of human rights violations.

“Inilalapit namin ang Komisyon at ipinaaalam namin ang functions at mandato ng Commission on Human Rights sa mga tao, lalung-lalo na sa grassroots level dahil sila ‘yong mas nangangailangan ng kaalaman, ng kamalayan tungkol sa karapatang pantao upang maalam nila at para maging kasangkapan rin kami, at kayo na mga human rights action officers upang itaguyod ang karapatang pantao [We bring the Commission closer, and we inform the people of the functions and mandate of the Commission on Human Rights, especially at the grassroots level, because they are the ones who need the most knowledge and awareness about human rights so that they can know and also become a tool. We and you, who are human rights action officers, promote human rights],” Palpal-latoc explained.

CHR's LaKaRan in Kidapawan City is the sixth stop since the activity started in 2023, with 10 more events scheduled this year.

In 2023, CHR conducted similar caravans in the Cordillera Administrative Region, Western Visayas, Northern Mindanao, Davao Region, and Cagayan Valley.

Palpal-latoc said the previous LaKaran engagements resulted in stronger partnerships with duty-bearers and right holders.

“These efforts have led to the launch of numerous human rights mechanisms and the establishment of policies, ordinances, and agreements that champion the cause,” he noted.

Meanwhile, the CHR also commended the city government of Kidapawan, headed by Mayor Jose Paolo Evangelista, for advancing human rights in the local government unit.

On October 23, 2023, Mayor Evanagelista issued Executive Order No. 153 series of 2023, “An Order Mainstreaming Human Rights, Rule of Law, and Access to Justice in Local Governance Within the City of Kidapawan Hereby Establishing the City Human Rights Action Center, Creating the City Human Rights Action Team, and Enjoining the Barangay Chairpersons of the City’s 40 Barangays to Establish and Create the Same.” (DED - PIA SOCCSKSARGEN)