Republika ng Pilipinas
NATIONAL COUNCIL ON DISABILITY AFFAIRS
BOARD RESOLUTION NO. 7 SERIES OF 2024
RESOLUTION EXPANDING THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE SUB-COMMITTEE ON ACCESS TO JUSTICE AND ANTI-DISCRIMINATION, AMENDING NCDA BOARD RESOLUTION NO. 6. SERIES OF 2012
WHEREAS, the Philippines is a State Party to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) which was unanimously adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 13 December 2006;
WHEREAS, Article 12 of the said Convention mandates State Parties to take appropriate measures to provide access by persons with disabilities to different support mechanisms they may require in the exercise of their legal capacity;
WHEREAS, the NCDA Governing Board adopted on 1 August 2012 Board Resolution No. 6 s. 2012 entitled “Resolution Creating a Sub-Committee on Access to Justice and Anti-Discrimination” whose function is to investigate human rights violations and discrimination involving persons with disabilities in the exercise of their fundamental rights and freedoms guaranteed by the UNCRPD, to assist them in filing legal actions to redress human rights violations and to perform other functions related to the enhancement and promotion of access to justice and non-discrimination of persons with disabilities;
WHEREAS, the members of the Sub-Committee are the Department of Justice as the Chairperson; Commission on Human Rights, Public Attorney’s Office, Philippine National Police, one (1) NGO with national network working for persons with disabilities, one (1) person with disability organization with national network, one (1) Person with Disability law firm or law firm with person with disability partners or associates, and one (1) Representative of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines Board of Governors;
WHEREAS, one of the powers and functions of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) is to provide assistance towards legislation regarding local governments, law enforcement and public safety, establish and prescribe plans, policies, programs and projects to promote peace and order, and ensure public safety;
WHEREAS, the DILG will enhance the capacity of the Sub-Committee in the dissemination of information, review and development of policies and programs at the local level relative to access to justice of persons with disabilities;
WHEREAS, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) provides social protection of the poor, vulnerable and disadvantaged sector and protective services to individuals, families and communities in crisis situation;
WHEREAS, Life Haven Center for Independent Living (Life Haven) is a non-governmental organization which provides paralegal services and support advocacy activities to protect the rights of persons with disabilities including Wheels of Justice (WOJ) program in partnership with NCDA;
WHEREAS, the Sub-Committee on Access to Justice and Anti-Discrimination regularly invited DILG and Life Haven to its quarterly meetings which contributed to the fulfillment of the Committee’s functions and highly recommended that said organizations will become official members;
NOW, THEREFORE, RESOLVED as it is hereby resolved, to amend the NCDA Board Resolution No. 6 s. 2012 by including the Department of the Interior and Local Government, Department of Social Welfare and Development, and Life Haven Center for Independent Living as official members of the Sub-Committee on Access to Justice and Anti-Discrimination.
RESOLVED FURTHER, that the NCDA Chairperson and the NCDA Executive Director shall be duly authorized to sign this Resolution for and on behalf of the NCDA Governing Board.
APPROVED held this _____ day of ____ 2024 via ad referendum.
GLENDA D. RELOVA
Executive Director, NCDA
REX GATCHALIAN
DSWD Secretary & Chairperson, NCDA