Philippines Highlights Role of Congress in Promotion, Protection, Fulfillment of Human Rights

DFA-Office of United Nations and International Organizations Principal Assistant Louie Dane Merced addresses representatives of Member States, UN agencies and civil society organizations at the UN side event “Increasing parliaments’ engagement with human rights” on 14 October 2019. (New York PM photo)

NEW YORK 07 November 2019 — Addressing representatives of Member States, UN agencies and civil society organizations during the side-event “Increasing parliaments’ engagement with human rights,” DFA-UNIO Principal Assistant Mr. Louie Dane Merced outlined how the Philippine government consider parliamentarians as key actors in the promotion and protection and fulfillment of human rights.

“The Philippine Senate has a Justice and Human Rights Committee. The House of Representatives has a Human Rights Committee. Both have jurisdiction to deal with all matters related to the promotion and enhancement of human rights of the populace, prevention of human rights violations, and assistance to victims of human rights violations and their families,” Principal Assistant Merced noted.

Principal Assistant Merced cited landmark laws which were passed by the Philippine Congress for the protection, promotion and fulfillment of human rights, including the Magna Carta for Women, the Magna for Persons with Disability, the Philippine Act on Crimes Against International Humanitarian Law, Genocide and other Crimes Against Humanity, Human Security Act, Anti-Torture Act and the Human Rights Victims Reparation and Recognition Act. 

The side-event coincides with Third Committee of the General Assembly’s consideration of the agenda item on the “Promotion and protection of human rights.” END

For more information, visit https://www.newyorkpm.dfa.gov.ph, https://www.un.int/philippines or https://www.facebook.com/PHMissionNY/.