Philippines Wins Recognition For Human Rights Record In Geneva, Switzerland
The Philippines scored a big victory in Geneva on September
23 when the United Nations Human Rights Council overwhelmingly adopted Manila’s
human rights report card.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter S. Cayetano immediately
welcomed the final adoption of the Third Philippine Universal Periodic Review
(UPR) Report by the 47-member body, saying it affirms Manila’s commitment to
its human rights obligations.
“The final adoption of our UPR Report during the 36th Regular
Session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva demonstrates that the Philippines
has nothing to hide with its human rights record,” said Secretary Cayetano in a
statement from New York where he is attending the 72nd Session of the UN
General Assembly.
The UPR of the UN Human Rights Council is the world’s
principal peer review mechanism where member-states come together to discuss
their human rights policies and plans and exchange views on how to improve
human rights through international cooperation.
The process is transparent and member-states interact as
sovereign equals.
“The Philippines will remain resolute in its respect for and
protection of human rights as it strives to improve the lives and welfare of
each and every Filipino by protecting them from the scourges of drugs and
criminality,” said Secretary Cayetano.
“The Philippines remains fully committed to meeting its
human rights obligations in compliance with the Constitution and international
human rights obligations,” he added.
“The dignity of the Filipino people is uppermost among our
priority concerns,” said Secretary Cayetano as he expressed his appreciation to
the other members of the government UPR team, particularly Senior Deputy
Executive Secretary Menardo Guevarra and Undersecretary Severo Catura of the
Presidential Commission on Human Rights.
The adoption is basically that part of the UPR process where
member-states confirm which recommendations to accept from those made when then
Senator Cayetano presented the Philippine UPR report before the Council in
Geneva in May.
The Philippine Mission to the United Nations in Geneva said
the report was warmly welcomed by other ASEAN member-states Laos, Malaysia,
Singapore, Myanmar and Thailand, which all commended the country’s human rights
achievements.
The Philippine Mission said to the 2017 report is the third
to be adopted by the council, which also adopted the Philippine UPR reports in
2008 and 2012.
“This shows the full engagement of the Philippines with the
UN Human Rights Council as the most important international human rights
machinery,” said Ambassador Evan Garcia, Philippine Permanent Representative to the
United Nations in Geneva.
“We must recognize the wise leadership of Secretary Cayetano
in showing our human rights commitments and achievements to the world. This is
the course we will maintain,” added Ambassador Garcia.
Ambassador Garcia pointed out that after a careful review
and inclusive consultation with inputs from various stakeholders, especially
from representatives from the State’s executive, legislative, and judicial
departments was done, the Philippines committed to fully accept 103 out of the
257 recommendations it received.
“The accepted recommendations mirrored the recommending
State’s understanding of the current human rights situation in the Philippines,
recognized and respected the State as currently implementing or having
implemented them, and were supportive of the Philippines’ pursuit of human
rights aimed at uplifting human dignity,” said Ambassador Garcia.
The Philippines fully accepted recommendations that
pertained to the sustainable protection of family and society in general, such
as the preservation of the sanctity of family life, effective advocacy of
economic and social rights through development, mitigation of the adverse
effects of climate change, eradication of poverty, and improvements to access
to health care and public education.
The Philippines also accepted those recommendations aimed at
enhancing the current capacities of the country to protect the right to life,
liberty and property through the rule of law and accessibility of victims to
justice in pursuit of anti-abortion initiatives, eradication of all forms of
slavery, counter-terrorism efforts, and the anti-illegal drugs campaign.
The rest of the recommendations that were fully accepted
were those that would strengthen international cooperation with human rights
mechanisms for the protection of the most vulnerable sectors in Philippine
society and the formulation of the national human rights action plan.
Ambassador Garcia explained that Philippines could only note
the other 154 recommendations because the country cannot guarantee or commit at
this time to their fruition given that the results of processes required to
implement them are beyond the sole control of any of the branches of the
government.
“This is specifically true for recommendations that pertain
to legislative action, which would require consultative processes with
stakeholders,” he said.
Ambassador Garcia said the adoption was the result of the
efforts of then Senator Cayetano and Deputy Executive Secretary Menardo Guevara
to clearly and comprehensively explain to the council Philippine policies and
practices, including those in connection with the campaign against illegal
drugs.
Forty-two (42) States are reviewed each year during three
Working Group sessions dedicated to 14 States each. The third cycle of the UPR
will cover all UN Member States and run until 2021.
The Philippines was one of the first 47 members of the then
newly created HRC in 2006, and is currently serving its 4th term as
member in the Human Rights Council.
Source: DFA
Philippines Wins Recognition For Human Rights Record In Geneva, Switzerland
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October 19, 2017
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