10 June 2021, Geneva, Switzerland - At the virtual briefing of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet on her Office´s activities in 2020, the Philippines welcomed the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights’ (OHCHR)’s robust and practical assistance to States in “building back better,” in the context of the Covid19 pandemic, particularly with respect to social protection and mitigating impacts on social, economic, and development rights.

Ambassador Evan P. Garcia, Philippine Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva, cited the report’s affirmation of the wide scope of OHCHR toolbox for facilitating positive transformation on the ground. In recognition of this, the Philippines provided in 2021 its biggest voluntary contribution to the OHCHR in years, to support the OHCHR work in extending technical and capacity-building assistance to States and in empowering vulnerable groups.

“We are encouraged by the positive stories of individuals and communities directly benefitting from OHCHR capacity-building support, a more defined embeddedness of OHCHR activities within UN’s national programs, and the growing portfolio of projects engaging regional organizations,” remarked Ambassador Garcia.

The Philippines also highlighted that the OHCHR´s constructive and result-oriented workstreams contribute to the prevention of human rights violations and abuses through a holistic approach of investing in the capacity of the duty bearers, addressing poverty and structural inequalities, building resilient institutions and communities, and empowering vulnerable groups.

The Philippines called for continued support from the international community for more constructive collective work to promote human rights that is grounded on the priorities of countries and provides opportunities for ownership across sectors.

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