PHL assumes UN rights council membership

The Philippines formally assumed last week its membership in the prestigious United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), the Department of Foreign Affairs said Tuesday. Philippine Permanent Representative Ambassador Evan Garcia said it was an honor for the Philippines to serve as a member of the UN body. A news release on the DFA website quoted Garcia as saying the Philippines "looked forward to working closely with all members and relevant stakeholders of the Council." The Philippines had received 183 votes in elections held in the UN General Assembly in May 2011 to re-enter the UN human rights body. It previously served as a founding member of the UNHRC from 2006 to 2010. Garcia reported on Philippine initiatives at the recently concluded 17th session of the Human Rights Council. Among the items covered in the report are:

1. 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.

At least 87 countries, including the United States, the European Union, and Japan co-sponsored the resolution.

2. The Philippines teamed up with Bangladesh to issue a landmark joint statement on the negative impacts of climate change on human rights, particularly on peoples 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. Philippine Mission Second Secretary Hendrik Garcia led negotiations on the RP-Germany resolution on combating trafficking in persons and the joint statement on climate change and human rights.

3. University of the Philippines Professor Virginia Bonoan-Dandan was appointed by the Human Rights Council as Independent Expert on human rights and international solidarity. Dandan previously served as the Chairperson of the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. 4. Garcia chaired a consultation organized by the OHCHR on draft guiding principles on extreme poverty and human rights.

In her opening remarks, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navanethem Pillay stressed extreme poverty was both a cause and consequence of human rights deprivation. For her part, UN Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights Magdalena Sepulveda played a leading role in the development of the draft guiding principles. She received 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," the DFA said. Meanwhile, Garcia said the Philippine government under President Benigno Aquino III attaches highest priority to poverty alleviation. Garcia also underscored the continuing need to enhance international cooperation and assistance to developing countries to fulfill the Millennium Development Goals and build capacities. — LBG, GMA News