General & Specific Objectives
PART II
THE PROJECT
A Study of the Human Rights Situation
in Police Lock-Up Cells in the National Capital Region
The Project Study was conceptualized in light of the constitutional mandate of the
Commission on Human Rights (CHR) to protect and promote the human rights of everyone in the
country, which include monitoring government’s compliance with international human rights treaty
obligations and exercising visitorial power over jails, prisons or detention facilities. 17 It is also
anchored on the duty of police officers, for the purpose of this study, refers to arresting officers
and the jailers assigned in police stations and lock-up cells across the National Capital Region
(NCR), to enforce the law and processes relevant to the arrest, investigation and prosecution of
criminal offenders.
The research consisted of onsite visits, inspections, data gathering, interviews and
documentation. It commenced on the last week of October 2014 and lasted until the first week of
February 2015. The gathered data were then evaluated vis-a-vis applicable human rights
standards where several issues and good practices were identified in the process. A final
assessment was done in March 2015.
The objectives of the Study are as follows:
A. General objectives
1. To obtain a validated report based on the study of the human rights condition in
police lock-up cells in the thirty-eight (38) police stations in the NCR;
2. To undertake policy development and implementation at the CHR and NCRPO
level to ensure respect for human rights and the rule of law;
3. To undertake programme measures on the basis of the result of the study towards
strengthening protection, promotion and monitoring mechanisms, as well as the
PNP-NCR institutional and individual law enforcer’s capacity development on
human rights norms and standards and the rule of law; and
4. To recommend appropriate measures to address the thematic concerns as
validated in the study to ensure full compliance with international human rights
standards, the Constitution and the rule of law.
B. Specific objectives
1. To identify prevailing human rights and enforcement issues in relation to the
maintenance and handling of lock-up cells;
17
1987 Constitution, Article XIII, Section 18.
7