The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) is backing the passage of House bills granting it full fiscal autonomy, stressing institutional independence is essential to protecting and promoting human rights.

“An institution cannot be truly independent if it does not really have full control of its fiscal and operational requirements,” the commission said in a position paper submitted to the House of Representatives, cautioning that financial constraints imposed from outside could compromise its ability to act independently on human rights concerns. 

The CHR expressed support for House Bills Nos. 349, 1433, 1798, 3041, 3934, 4835, and 4946, which seek to establish a statutory charter strengthening the commission’s mandate and independence in line with international standards. 

According to the CHR, the absence of a legislated charter for nearly four decades has left it operating under arrangements that fall short of the United Nations’ Paris Principles, which require national human rights institutions to have legal, operational, and financial independence. 

The CHR said fiscal autonomy is a core requirement under these standards, stressing that funding must be adequate, protected from external control, and automatically released to ensure that the institution can set priorities and carry out its mandate without interference.

“An NHRI that is subject to financial control cannot be truly independent,” the CHR said, adding that dependence on external financial controls weakens its ability to protect and promote human rights. 

The proposed measures explicitly provide that the commission shall enjoy full fiscal autonomy, with appropriations that “shall not be reduced and shall be automatically and regularly released,” a safeguard the CHR said is essential to its constitutional mandate. 

The CHR also cited findings from its 2023 international accreditation review, which flagged the lack of a statutory charter and limits on financial independence as continuing concerns, despite the commission retaining its highest accreditation status. 

Furthermore, the CHR said the proposed reforms are necessary to allow it to perform its mandate without undue pressure or institutional constraints, urging Congress to move forward with the measures.

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