Etta Rosales

Career

She is a well-known defender of human rights and was instrumental in instituting a class action suit in the Hawaii District Court which resulted in the only judgment holding the former dictator Ferdinand E. Marcos liable for gross human rights violations committed during his incumbency, which judgment was partially executed in 2011. She herself is a victim of human rights violations by the Marcos regime.

As an activist, she co-founded the left-leaning organization for the education sector called the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) in 1982. She was also the chairperson of Partido ng Bayan. In 1985, she became a member of the newly-established Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan), where she headed the Popular Struggles and People's Welfare Commission. She joined Akbayan in 1998, formed the Akbayan Citizens' Action Party, better known as Akbayan. She was elected as a congresswoman for that party list from 1998 to 2007.

After serving in Congress for three terms, she served as Co-Chairperson of the Philippine Coalition for the International Criminal Court and founded Building Bridges for Peace, a multi-sectoral initiative to secure land rights and security for agrarian reform and indigenous communities through dialogue.

In 2010, she was the possible choice of President Benigno S. Aquino III to head the country's Commission on Human Rights as a replacement to Leila de Lima, who became the Justice Secretary of the country. Many left-wing organizations, such as Karapatan and the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) (a group she was formerly aligned with), protested her appointment, stating that she was unfit for the position.

Rosales is a known critic of the regime of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and has often led her party list in protests in opposition to it. Risa Hontiveros, a colleague in Akbayan, welcomed her appointment. She was appointed Commission on Human Rights Chairperson on September 1, 2010. As CHR Chairperson, she also served as Chairperson of the Southeast Asia National Human Rights Institutions Forum, the regional network of national human rights institutions in ASEAN.

In November 2017, the Progressive Alliance cited Rosales for her contribution to human rights in the Philippines and for political courage. She was the first recipient of the award.

In 2018, Rosales was recognized by the Human Rights Violations Victims' Memorial Commission as a human rights violations victim of the Martial Law Era.

References

References

1. (26 May 2015). "Etta Rosales quietly leaves Commission on Human Rights".
2. (November 8, 2016). "Read: SC media briefer on Marcos burial decision". ABS-CBN News.
3. [http://www.gmanews.tv/story/196160/militant-groups-dispute-rosales-nomination-as-chr-chief Militant groups dispute Rosales' nomination as CHR chief]. [[GMA News]]. 07/15/2010.
4. [http://www.bulatlat.com/main/2010/07/13/kmu-to-hontiveros-etta-seriously-flawed-choice-for-chr/ KMU to Hontiveros: Etta seriously flawed choice for CHR]. ''Bulatlat''. July 13, 2010.
5. Abinales, Patricio N. ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=iRzntZTyOrsC&pg=PA98 The revolution falters: the left in Philippine politics after 1986]''. Southeast Asia program series, 15. Ithaca, NY: Cornell Univ, 1996. p. 98
6. Sicam, Paulynn P.. (November 27, 1985). "Post-Dated Check". Lagda Publishing Inc..
7. Jimenez-David, Rina. [http://opinion.inquirer.net/inquireropinion/columns/view/20100717-281690/Welcome-to-the-family Welcome to the family] {{Webarchive. link. (2010-07-21 . ''[[Philippine Daily Inquirer]]'', 17 July 2010.)
8. [http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/267094/partylists-wary-etta-head-chr Party-lists wary of Etta as head of CHR]. ''[[Manila Bulletin]]'', 15 July 2010.
9. [http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/07/08/10/rights-group-rejects-rosales-chr-chair Rights group rejects Rosales as CHR chair]. [[ABS-CBN News]]. 07/08/2010.
10. [http://www.gmanews.tv/story/195658/etta-rosales-perfect-as-chr-chief-says-hontiveros Etta Rosales 'perfect' as CHR chief, says Hontiveros]. [[GMA News]]. Etta Rosales 'perfect' as CHR chief, says Hontiveros.
11. (2015-05-26). "Etta Rosales quietly leaves Commission on Human Rights".
12. Cupin, Bea. "Ex-CHR head gets int'l award for political courage".
13. "Roll of Victims".