Philippines Calls on the HRC to Observe Fairness, Inclusivity, Respect for Sovereignty  

“We oppose the politically-motivated use of human rights,” Ambassador Enrique A. Manalo during the General Assembly’s dialogue with HRC President Nazhat Shameem Khan.(Photo from NYPM)

UNITED NATIONS, NEW YORK 05 November 2021 – In his address on 29 October 2021 to the General Assembly during the presentation of the report of the Human Rights Council (HRC) by HRC President Nazhat Shameem Khan, Ambassador Enrique A. Manalo emphasized that the HRC must observe the highest standards of balance, fairness and objectivity in its discourse, and must conduct its work in the spirit of inclusivity, and with full respect for the sovereignty and the national processes of Member States.

Ambassador Manalo stressed the Philippines’ opposition to politically motivated use of human rights, and noted that “Country-specific resolutions that do not have the support of the State concerned stand little chance of making a meaningful difference on the ground, and are therefore a waste of resources.”

He likewise expressed regret that program budget implications for country-specific resolutions go mostly to salaries and travels, and barely have provisions for actual projects that benefit concerned communities. Ambassador Manalo urged for a review of the structure of the budget for technical cooperation to ensure that it is fit for generating concrete and positive change on the ground.

The Ambassador referred to the Philippines-UN Joint Program on Human Rights, which was signed on 22 July 2021 and described it as “a result of genuine cooperation and a model for constructive engagement on human rights between a Member State and the UN.” He noted that the Joint Program is a cohesive and inclusive technical cooperation framework that brings together all the relevant stakeholders around projects on accountability and the rule of law. He further noted the crucial and central role of the UN Resident Coordinator in bringing together various UN agencies in the country while highlighting that “the UN now has one voice, one strategy, one budget in the Philippines.”

A recording of the event is available at https://media.un.org/en/asset/k1f/k1ffv0f4d .END

For more information, visit https://www.un.int/philippines/   and https://web.facebook.com/PHMissionNY