• Protecting and promoting the human rights of all the people residing in the Philippines and Filipinos residing abroad, especially the underprivileged and disadvantaged sectors of society;

• Engaging in sustained efforts with organisational integrity and competency in seeking justice; reorienting the agents of the State along human rights norms; advising the State on national policies and standards; catalysing effective and credible partnerships; and working with national and international organisations;

• Advocating and monitoring the government's compliance with its international treaty obligations on human rights; and,

• Encouraging civil society participation.

The organisation’s programmes and services are organised around four main axes:

• Human Rights Protection Programme, which includes Investigation and Forensic Services, Legal Services, Legal Aid and Counseling, Conciliation, Mediation, Human Rights Assistance, and Visiting Services;

• Human Rights Promotion Programme, which includes Education and Training, Human Rights Information and Public Advocacy, Human Rights Research and Development, Compliance Monitoring of International Human Rights Standards in Governance, and Web Services;

• Human Rights Linkages Development and Strategic Planning, covering Rights-based Planning in Governance, Human Rights Performance System in Governance, Harnessing Competence in Government and None-state Actors for Good Human Rights Practices, the Executive Cooperation Programme, and the Legislative and Judicial Cooperation Programme; and,

• Special Programmes, which include Rights-based Approach Application, Barangay Human Rights Action Centre, Human Rights Teaching Exemplars, Child Rights Centre, Women's Rights Programme Centre, and Asia-Pacific Institute of Human Rights.

Within the framework of the Metagora pilot project, the CHRP implemented a pilot survey focusing on the effective implementation of indigenous peoples’ human rights. In this exercise, the CHRP developed a strong collaboration with the Philippines National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB) and the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP). The activity consists of a small but incisive survey-based study implemented in three northern regions of the country with a high concentration of indigenous peoples. The objective of this pilot exercise was to develop evidence-based assessment methods and tools combining quantitative and qualitative approaches. The study aimed to measure four aspects of the rights of indigenous peoples to their ancestral domains and lands: the indigenous peoples’ perceptions and awareness of their rights, the enjoyment or violations of these rights, government measures and customary laws for the realisation of these rights, and the availability of mechanisms for redressing or fulfilling rights.

For further information regarding this pilot survey, please turn to the Synthesis Report produced by the Metagora Coordination Team.