PH Reaffirm Commitment to the UN Joint Program on Human Rights

Philippine Permanent Representative to the United Nations and other International Organizations in Geneva Evan P. Garcia (center) delivers the opening remarks at the Diplomatic Briefing on the Implementation of the UN Joint Program on Human Rights held on 12 July 2012 at the Philippine Mission in Geneva. Joining him were Mr. Gustavo González (left), UN Resident Coordinator in the Philippines, and Ms. Signa Elneff Poulsen, Senior Human Rights Adviser. (Geneva PM photo)

GENEVA 13 July 2022 – Philippine Permanent Representative to the United Nations and other International Organizations in Geneva Evan P. Garcia and United Nations Resident Coordinator in the Philippines Gustavo González reaffirmed commitment to the effective implementation of the UN Joint Program (UNJP) on Human Rights in the Philippines, during a diplomatic briefing at the Philippine Mission in Geneva on 12 July 2012.

Launched in July 2021, the UNJP is a three-year program of in-country delivery of technical assistance and capacity-building to strengthen the Philippines’ human rights mechanisms and institutions. It covers six areas: domestic investigative and accountability mechanisms, data gathering on alleged police violations, civic space and engagement with civil society, National Mechanism for Reporting and Follow-up, human rights-based approach to drug control, and human rights-based approach to counter-terrorism.

Ambassador Garcia underscored that the Philippine Government’s decision to embark on a joint program with the UN attests to the country’s “longstanding tradition of forging partnerships and openness to international scrutiny”, as well as “a vote of confidence in the reformed UN system and our bilateral partners, and in our capacity to work together to effect concrete, meaningful, and durable change on the ground to advance the cause of human rights”. He further stated that there is “strong political commitment at the highest level” from the Philippine Government to uphold its human rights obligations, including through the UNJP.

Ambassador Garcia, likewise, thanked partner countries that contributed to the UNJP Multi-Partner Trust Fund and shared that the Philippines will contribute 200,000 USD this year.

UNRC González affirmed UNJP as a groundbreaking initiative that allows the UN, through the reformed UN Resident Coordinator system, to be part of a solution to issues faced by a member country. He said the UNJP could serve as a prototype for future UN technical cooperation in the field of human rights. 

UNRC González also outlined several accomplishments under the UNJP’s six areas of engagement, including the Philippines becoming a pilot country for the human rights National Recommendations Tracking Database of the Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights, country visit of UN Special Rapporteurs, MOU with the Philippine Statistics Authority on the establishment of a methodology for collecting data on human rights violations, and advocacy for a human rights defenders legislation, among others.

The UNJP’s first year was also marked by a successful consensus- and trust-building between the Philippine Government, civil society organizations and other stakeholders, UNRC González added. 

Around 30 representatives from various diplomatic missions in Geneva and the United Nations attended the briefing. END

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