10/08/2026
CHR Commissioner Fider-Reyes Conducts Regional Visit, Engages CHR Region X Focal Persons on Human Rights Concerns
The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) Region X had the privilege of welcoming Commissioner Judge Maria Amifaith Fider-Reyes (Ret.) during her regional visit to Northern Mindanao.
As part of her visit, Commissioner Fider-Reyes met with the focal persons of CHR Region X under her assigned focalships, providing an opportunity to discuss regional concerns, programs, and initiatives, and to strengthen coordination in advancing the Commissionโs human rights mandate.
Among the substantive discussions during the engagement was the Human Rights-Based Approach (HRBA) to Drug Policy, where Commissioner Fider-Reyes shared valuable insights drawn from her years of experience in the judiciary and her work in advancing human rights.
One particular analogy she shared resonated deeply with the work of the Commission.
Commissioner Fider-Reyes explained that, in the judiciary, the law is often represented as blindfoldedโit applies equally, regardless of who a person is, where they come from, or what circumstances surround them. The law provides the framework and the remedy, and the role of the judge is to ensure that the law is applied correctly.
The work of the Commission, however, calls for a different perspective.
In advancing and protecting human rights, we remove the blindfold.
The Commission looks beyond the issue and sees the person as a wholeโtheir circumstances, their lived experiences, their vulnerabilities, and the realities that shape their situation. Rather than simply providing the same โcoatโ to everyone, we strive to ensure that human rights interventions are responsive to the individual.
Sometimes, the coat may be too big. Sometimes, it may be too long or too short. And sometimes, it may need to be altered, repaired, or redesigned. The human rights-based approach allows us to tailor-fit our interventions to the people we serve, so that no one is left behind in the pursuit of dignity, equality, and justice.
This powerful analogy serves as a meaningful reminder that human rights work is not merely about applying rules. It is about understanding people, recognizing their lived realities, and ensuring that responses to human rights concerns are people-centered, inclusive, and grounded in dignity.
CHR Region X expresses its gratitude to Commissioner Fider-Reyes for her meaningful engagement with the Regional Office, and for sharing her knowledge, experiences, and insights with the Commissionโs focal persons and personnel.
Her visit underscores the importance of continued coordination among the Commissionโs regional offices and focal persons in ensuring that human rights protection and promotion remain responsive to the realities and needs of the communities we serve.
The Commission remains committed to advancing a human rights-based approach across its programs, policies, and interventionsโone that sees not merely the issue, but the person who experiences it.
