CHR to government: Fulfill UN rights council obligations

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) has urged the Duterte administration to fulfill its obligations as a member of the United Nation Human Rights Council (UNHRC).

A member of the council, the Philippines would be obliged to uphold the highest standards in human rights promotion and protection, CHR Commissioner Karen Gomez-Dumpit said.

She said the commission would monitor the country’s human rights pledges after winning a seat in the UN council.

“Accompanying the candidacy for seeking a seat in the council are the human rights pledges. The commission will monitor these pledges as we engage the government and call on them to fulfill their obligations as a member of the council,” Gomez-Dumpit said.

UN General Resolution 60/251 requires council members to uphold the highest standards in human rights promotion and protection and cooperate fully with the council, said Gomez-Dumpit.

She said on the fifth election of the Philippines to the council, the issuance of a standing invitation to the special procedures will demonstrate its genuine commitment, which is “to continue to engage actively with the human rights treaty bodies, special procedures and other mechanisms of the Human Rights Council.”

Gomez-Dumpit said much work needs to be done to address the continuing serious human rights violations in the country.

She said the election of the Philippines to the UNHRC was expected as the Asian group fielded as many candidates as there were seats in the council.

Earlier, outgoing Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano said the Philippines’ election in the UNHRC shows that member states remain “convinced” that the Duterte government respects human rights.

Activists in Europe and North America have opposed the candidacy of the Philippines and other nations in the UNHRC, dismissing them as “unqualified” due to their human rights records.

“Our election to another term in the Human Rights Council would not have been possible without the support of other UN member states who clearly understood where we are coming from,” Cayetano said.

Welcomed

The Philippine National Police (PNP) welcomed the reelection of the Philippines to the UNHRC.

PNP chief Director General Oscar Albayalde said the Philippines’ election to the UNHRC is a clear manifestation of the international community’s recognition of the country’s steady progress in fulfilling international human rights obligations.

Based on the PNP experience, Albayalde said the police organization supports the validity of the UN report that the threats posed by illegal drugs to health and wellbeing, as well as to security, safety and sustainable development demand an urgent response. – With Cecille Suerte Felipe, Rhodina Villanueva