PHL Champions Human Rights for Migrants in the Context of Climate Change at the UN Forum 

Ambassador Evan P. Garcia (left), Permanent Representative to the UN and Other International Organizations in Geneva, delivers the Philippine statement at the 36th UN Human Rights Council intersessional panel discussion on human rights, climate change, migrants and persons displaced at international borders. With him is Minister Enrico T. Fos, focal person on human rights and migration at the Philippine Permanent Mission to the UN and Other International Organizations in Geneva.

13 October 2017 GENEVA – The Philippine delegation at the 36th UN Human Rights Council intersessional session panel discussion  on  human rights, climate change, migrants and persons displaced at international borders held at the Palais des Nations in Geneva on October 06, which was led by Ambassador Evan P. Garcia, Permanent Representative to the United Nations and Other International Organizations in Geneva, strongly asserted that actions to address the adverse impacts of the climate change should be informed by and uphold human rights.

“As one of the countries most vulnerable to the adverse impacts of climate change and with large number of its nationals working and living abroad, the Philippines is a strong adherent to the view that all actions on migration, including addressing drivers of migration such as climate change, is informed by and upholds human rights,” Ambassador Garcia stressed during the panel discussion.

He added that the Philippines had long emphasized the urgent need for addressing the adverse impacts of climate change on the full and effective enjoyment of human rights, mindful that gaps and challenges should be addressed most especially for the most vulnerable sectors and communities.

Ambassador Garcia also called for the outcome of the panel discussion to feed into the discussions on the Global Compact on Migration and on the work of the Task Force Displacement of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.

The intersessional panel discussion is the last plenary event held during the 36th session of the UN Human Rights Council. END

For more information, visit www.genevapm.dfa.gov.ph or https://www.facebook.com/genevapcg.