PH reaffirms commitment to uphold refugee welfare
Philippine Secretary of Justice Menardo I. Guevarra delivers remarks via pre-recorded video during the High-Level Officials Meeting on 14-15 December 2021.
GENEVA, 21 December 2021 – The Philippines reaffirmed its strong advocacy of upholding the rights and welfare of refugees and other persons of concerns during the first High-Level Officials Meeting in Geneva, Switzerland on 14-15 December 2021.
Secretary of Justice Menardo I. Guevarra, speaking on behalf of the Philippines during the two-day virtual meeting, expressed the Philippines’ steadfast commitment to implement the Global Compact on Refugees, as well as the pledges it made during the 2019 Global Refugee Forum and High-Level Segment on Statelessness.
The Philippines reported that it has fulfilled some of its pledges on enhancing the full access to rights of refugees and on strengthening protection of stateless persons.
To adapt to the challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Philippines continued to implement programs for refugees such as an interim Standard Operating Procedure for its Emergency Transit Mechanism. In solidarity with the international community and ASEAN, the Philippines is also developing a Complementary Pathways Program for a specific number of Rohingyas.
The Philippines provided uninterrupted socio-economic assistance to persons of concerns, including extending financial, livelihood, and legal assistance, allowing qualified persons of concern to take professional licensure examinations, continuing its birth registration campaign for identified populations at-risk of statelessness, and providing access to COVID-19 vaccination and other health programs.
The Philippines reiterated its support in addressing issues that impact on the rights and welfare of refugees and other persons of concerns, including climate displacement, sexual and gender-based violence, and equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines. The Philippines called for support for States to strengthen and develop national capacities and initiatives that are in line with the vision of the Global Compact on Refugees.
The High-Level Officials Meeting, held every two years after each Global Refugee Forum, provides a platform for governments to take stock of the progress of the implementation of the Global Compact on Refugees. END