By: Janine Balageo
The University of the Cordilleras (UC) has been officially designated by the Commission on Human Rights as the first private higher education institution in the Cordillera Administrative Region to serve as a Center of Human Rights Education (CHRE). This milestone was formalized on March 26, 2026, through a ceremonial signing between CHR Regional Director Atty. Romel P. Daguimol and UC Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Ariel Nimo B. Pumecha, a success made possible by the collaborative efforts of the Rights2LIFE Project Team.
UC’s Representative, Dr. Pumecha signing the MOA with CHR-CAR’s Representative Atty. Daguimol
Operating under the College of Criminal Justice Education’s Peace and Justice Innovation Center, the CHRE will strengthen the university’s commitment to human rights by integrating rights-based perspectives into academic programs, research, and community extension activities. Ultimately, this initiative reinforces UC’s position as a leader in values-driven education, dedicated to cultivating a society grounded in dignity, justice, and inclusivity.
The recognition of the University of the Cordilleras as a Center of Human Rights Education aligns with several UN SDGs by embedding rights-based perspectives into the university’s core mission. Primarily, it supports SDG 4 (Quality Education) by integrating these perspectives into academic programs and reinforcing UC’s position as a leader in values-driven education. It also advances SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) through community extension activities and a commitment to cultivating a society grounded in dignity and inclusivity.
Furthermore, by establishing the CHRE under the Peace and Justice Innovation Center to strengthen human rights instruction and advocacy, the university promotes SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions). Finally, the milestone embodies SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), as it was realized through the strong collaboration of the Rights2LIFE Project Team and a formal partnership between the university and the Commission on Human Rights.
