April 1, 2003

REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9201

AN ACT DECLARING DECEMBER 4 TO 10 AS NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS CONSCIOUSNESS WEEK IN THE COUNTRY AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

SECTION 1. This Act shall be known as the "National Human Rights Consciousness Week Act of 2002."

SECTION 2. December 4 to 10 is hereby declared as National Human Rights Consciousness Week in the country.

SECTION 3. All government agencies, including government-owned and controlled corporations, shall celebrate the week through simple and appropriate ceremonies and activities to make the people aware of their basic human rights in relation to the functions and services offered by these government instrumentalities.

SECTION 4. All levels of education/learning institutions, both public and private, shall celebrate the week through simple and appropriate ceremonies and activities to propagate, particularly among the students, a human rights culture that aims at sustainable development in the country. SEIDAC

SECTION 5. A national committee composed of the following shall take the lead in the preparation and implementation of the guidelines on how to celebrate the week through simple and appropriate ceremonies and activities:

(1) Chairperson of the Commission on Human Rights — Chairperson;

(2) Chairperson of the Civil Service Commission — Vice Chairperson;

(3) One (1) representative from each of the following government agencies as members:

(a) Department of Education;

(b) Department of National Defense;

(c) Department of Justice;

(d) Department of Social Welfare and Development;

(e) Department of Foreign Affairs;

(f) Department of Labor and Employment;

(g) Department of the Interior and Local Government; and

(h) Philippine National Police.

(4) One (1) representative each from two (2) human rights non-government organizations as members, to be appointed by the President upon recommendation of the Commission on Human Rights. CTaIHE

SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect upon its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. SEIDAC

Approved: April 1, 2003

Published in the Manila Times on April 6, 2003. Published in the Official Gazette, Vol. 99 No. 25 Page 3991 on June 23, 2003.