The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), in collaboration with the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) of the Philippines and criminology schools across the country, launched an initiative to strengthen human rights education in criminology programs. The project recognizes that future law enforcement professionals need not only technical competencies in criminal justice but also a strong understanding of human rights, ethics, and the rule of law. This effort supports the Commission on Higher Education’s requirement that Human Rights Education be integrated into criminology curricula.
To achieve this goal, OHCHR worked with educators, criminology experts, and partner institutions to develop a human rights-sensitive syllabus that can be adopted nationwide. The curriculum incorporates international standards and best practices while addressing the realities of policing and criminal justice in the Philippines. The University of the Cordilleras-College of Criminal Justice Education, among other institutions, has taken a leading role in implementing the program and helping create learning materials such as modules and workbooks for wider use.
The initiative aims to produce future law enforcement, corrections, and fire protection professionals who uphold human dignity, accountability, and ethical conduct in their work. By embedding human rights principles into criminology education, the program seeks to improve public trust in the criminal justice system and promote more professional, responsible, and people-centered public service. The collaboration has gained support from numerous schools, government agencies, and professional organizations nationwide.
This initiative aligns primarily with SDG 4 (Quality Education) by promoting inclusive, values-based education that equips criminology students with knowledge of human rights and ethical practice. It also supports SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions) by preparing future law enforcement and criminal justice professionals to uphold human rights, strengthen accountability, and foster public trust in institutions. Through its emphasis on justice, professionalism, and respect for human dignity, the program contributes to building more effective, transparent, and people-centered justice systems in the Philippines.
Photos by: UNIC/Jorica Pamintuan
