Phl assumes membership of UN Human Rights Council

MANILA, Philippines -  The Philippines assumed membership in the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) last week, the Philippine Permanent Mission to the United Nations in Geneva reported yesterday.

Philippine Permanent Representative Ambassador Evan Garcia said it was an honor for the Philippines to serve as a member of the august body.

He said the Philippines is looking forward to working closely with all members and relevant stakeholders of the HRC.

The Philippines obtained 183 votes in elections held in the UN General Assembly in May 2011 to re-enter the UN human rights body.

The Philippines previously served as a founding member of the HRC from 2006-2010.

Garcia reported on the Philippine initiatives at the recently concluded 17th session of the HRC.

He said the HRC adopted by consensus the Philippines’ and Germany’s resolution on combating trafficking in persons, especially women and children, which strengthens the mandate of the UN Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons. 

A total of 87 countries, including the US, the European Union, and Japan, co-sponsored the resolution.

The Philippines teamed up with Bangladesh to issue a landmark joint statement on the negative impacts of climate change on human rights, particularly on people living in developing countries and small island states.

The statement called on the HRC and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) to give more attention to the implications of climate change on human rights.

Over 100 countries co-sponsored the joint statement, including all the members of the African Group and Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), as well as Chile, Costa Rica, Peru, Guatemala, Cuba, Peru, Sri Lanka, and Singapore.

Second Secretary Hendrik Garcia of the Philippine Mission led negotiations on the Phl-Germany resolution on combating trafficking in persons and the joint statement on climate change and human rights.

Prof. Virginia Bonoan-Dandan of the University of the Philippines was appointed by the HRC as independent expert on human rights and international solidarity.

Dandan previously served as the chair of the UN committee on economic, social and cultural rights.

Garcia chaired a consultation organized by the OHCHR on draft guiding principles on extreme poverty and human rights.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navanethem Pillay delivered opening remarks stressing that extreme poverty was both a cause and consequence of human rights deprivation.

UN Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights Magdalena Sepulveda played a leading role in the development of the draft guiding principles, receiving inputs from states and relevant stakeholders, including persons living in extreme poverty. She emphasized that empowering persons living in extreme poverty through human rights could help eradicate extreme poverty.

Garcia said the Philippine government under President Aquino attaches highest priority to poverty alleviation.

She also underscored the continuing need to enhance international cooperation and assistance to developing countries to fulfill the Millennium Development Goals and build capacities.