03 August 2016 — Philippine Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva, Ambassador Cecilia B. Rebong  reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) that the Philippines affirmed the important role of parliamentarians in the work of the Human Rights Council,including the implementation of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR),  in a panel discussion of the 32nd Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council held at the Palais des Nations in Geneva on June 22.

“In a tripartite system like the Philippines, it is very crucial that parliamentarians are involved in the UPR process and not just in the implementation. This is because of their very role in the policy-making process, which ensures the effective adoption of UPR recommendations,” Ambassador Rebong stated.

The panel discussion was entitled “Taking Stock of the Contribution of Parliaments to the Work of the Human Rights Council and its Universal Periodic Review, and Identifying Ways to Enhance Further that Contribution.” The Philippine Mission in Geneva was one of the organizers of the panel discussion.

Among the invited panelists was former Philippine Congressman Neri J. Colmenares.

Congressman Colmenares reported on the outcome of the Asia-Pacific Regional Seminar, “Translating International Human Rights Commitments into National Realities: The Contribution of Parliaments to the Work of the United Nations Human Rights Council”.

“There is a need to enhance knowledge and understanding of human rights by parliamentarians—not merely knowledge, but understanding as well—so that they will be equipped with not just the knowledge, but also an understanding of the rights and its implications on policy making,” Congressman Neri J. Colmenares emphasized during the discussion.

The seminar in Manila made the following recommendations: (a) further capacity-building activities for parliamentarians and local legislative council; (b) more awareness-raising programs for parliamentarians and general public; (c) establishment of parliamentary standing or functional committees as mechanisms to promote UPR; (d) active and broader use of UPR; (e) human rights as a cross-cutting consideration on policy formulation; (f) creation of linkages among parliaments in the region and sharing of best practices in addressing human rights violations and other related issues; (g) engagements with stakeholders through dialogue and consultation; and (h) creation of national and regional human rights institutions and mechanisms.

The Asia-Pacific Regional Seminar was organized by the Philippine Senate, the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) from February 26 to 27, 2015 in Manila.

One hundred forty-eight delegates attended the said seminar. Of the 148,  95 were parliamentarians from the Asia-Pacific region. END