The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) on Wednesday called for inclusive strategies to safeguard the rights of persons with intellectual disabilities amid the recent Supreme Court decision reaffirming their competence to testify in court.
In a press statement, the CHR said inclusive approaches are crucial for reforming the justice system to effectively integrate a human rights-based perspective into the legal framework.
It said it is important to strive to employ inclusive strategies in all aspects of society to fully recognize and respect the inherent dignity of persons with disabilities including better opportunities for education, employment, and social protection.
“We urge all stakeholders, particularly the legal community, policy makers, and the general public, to embrace and implement a progressive approach to ensure that persons with disabilities are fully included and respected in every sphere of life,” the CHR said.
It said SC’s decision ensures that persons with intellectual disabilities are not unfairly excluded from judicial processes due to stereotypes or biases about their abilities, but rather, it evaluates their testimony based on clarity, coherence, and relevance.
It also said that the advocacy for the use of People-First Language (PFL), which places the individual before their disability, “reflects a profound respect for their dignity.”
The CHR further said it is essential to recognize that reforming the legal processes to provide better access to justice for persons with intellectual disabilities is fundamentally a human rights issue.
“After all, a justice system that is synchronized with our democratic principles upholds the rights of all individuals, and its effectiveness should be measured by how well it serves all sectors of society,” CHR stressed. —Sherylin Untalan/AOL, GMA Integrated News
