Human rights body finalizing report for UN

MANILA, Philippines – The Presidential Human Rights Committee (PHRC) and representatives from concerned government agencies, civil society and the private sector are finalizing the report on the human rights situation in the country for submission to the United Nations.

A Palace statement said the Philippines is one of the first to undergo a process called Universal Periodic Review (UPR), wherein member-countries of the Human Rights Council look into the compliance of all 193 UN member states on the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, who is also PHRC chairman, said the leaders of civil society with the private and government sectors met in Malacañang last week for a dialogue on the human rights situation in the country in connection with the drafting of the report.

The forum is aimed at identifying human rights issues in the country regarding the implementation of sections under the ICCPR.

The series of consultation with various stakeholders is being undertaken by the PHRC in preparation for the UPR to be submitted to the United Nations General Assembly. The country’s written report must be submitted in advance and is due in Geneva, Switzerland by Feb. 15.

Ermita expressed optimism that the report will be submitted on time and all issues regarding human rights directions would be thoroughly addressed. The Department of Justice is the lead agency for the working group in civil and political rights. Other working groups held consultations on other human rights treaties earlier.

“Most common issues raised in regard to the ICCPR were activist killings, media freedom, poverty, neglect of children and other vulnerable sectors,” a PHRC statement said. “While the group lauded the laws and government policies in addressing the issues, the implementation of these laws has been very unsatisfactory.”

Attending the consultation were representatives from Amnesty International, Task Force Detainees of the Philippines, CHILDHOPE Asia, National Council of Churches in the Philippines, KASAMAKA, KARAPATAN, National Council of Social Development, Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV), CWC, the Asia Foundation, UP Institute of Human Rights, Bantay Bayan Foundation, Balay Rehabilitation Center. All the government agencies included in the drafting of the report were also present.

Under a UN General Assembly resolution, the 43 members of the first HRC elected in May 2006 by the Assembly, which include the Philippines, were the first one to be reviewed.  – Paolo Romero