PH Upholds Long Tradition of Human Rights Leadership in the World 

GENEVA 04 March 2019 — The Philippines upheld its long tradition of human rights leadership in the world at the 40th Session of the Human Rights Council (HRC) on 27 February 2019.

Speaking at the Session’s High-Level Segment, Undersecretary Severo S. Catura of the Presidential Human Rights Committee Secretariat stressed the Philippines’ resolve to continue in this role as global champion of human rights.

“We are honored to be a member of the Human Rights Council for the fifth term. The Philippines is proud of its contribution to the development of the United Nations system and modern multilateralism,” Undersecretary Catura said.

The Undersecretary cited that the Philippines, one of the drafters of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, has long been recognized globally for its achievements in gender equality, migration governance, climate change, and disaster management, among others. 

In the region, the country contributed to laying a strong foundation for human rights with the pioneering role it played in the integration of human rights in the ASEAN Charter, the establishment of the ASEAN Intergovermental Commission on Human Rights, and the adoption of the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration.

“As the first Republic in Asia, the Philippines stands for democracy and respect for the dignity of every human being. It is the state’s first and defining responsibility to protect its people against violations; by its own agents and more so by the lawless,” stated Underscretary Catura.

On the occasion of the 30th commemorative year of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Undersecretary reiterated that the country’s young demographic base continues to provide a most compelling rationale for the anti-illegal drug campaign, which is linked to the pursuit of a strong socioeconomic agenda for the nation’s future. 

Undersecretary Catura shared that while the country continues to have one of the world’s most vibrant civil society, it is confronted by the challenge of false narratives perpetrated by terrorist front organizations masquerading as non-government organizations and human rights defenders. He called for discernment in dealing with such parties who exploit the good faith of the international community and the UN system to perpetuate their atrocities.  

With multilateralism at a crossroads, and the relevance of global institutions and platforms currently debated, Undersecretary Catura affirmed that “the spirit of multilateralism, as represented by the UN, including the Human Rights Council, must be preserved to ensure that it remains true to our collective aspirations, despite proclivities to twist its purposes and make it serve narrower political ends. Amidst challenges, multilateralism continues to bring nations together for everyone, everywhere; its most recent achievement being the adoption of the Global Compact on Refugees and the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration”. 

The Undersecretary concluded his statement by upholding the spirit of genuine international solidarity which calls on nations to pursue humankind’s highest ideals nurtured by the universal values of human rights. END

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