PH Reaffirms Value of Universal Periodic Review in Runup to Country’s Fourth Cycle Review
Philippine Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva Evan P. Garcia during the briefing held on 31 October 2022. (Geneva PM photo)
GENEVA, 02 November 2022 – Philippine Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva Evan P. Garcia reaffirmed the value of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process in the runup to the Philippines’ 4th cycle review this month, at a briefing conducted by the OHCHR for the ASEAN Committee in Geneva (ACG) held on 31 October 2022.
Noting that the Philippines will undertake its 4th cycle review on 14 November 2022, Ambassador Garcia underscored that the UPR is a vehicle for constructive discussions among States focused on finding solutions to gaps in human rights promotion and protection – both in terms of domestic standard-setting and actual implementation of international human rights obligations.
The Philippines’ 4th cycle UPR follows right after major constructive dialogues to human rights treaty bodies, namely, the Human Rights Committee on the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights on 10-11 October 2022 and the Committee on the Rights of the Child on 13-14 September 2022, as well as the Enhanced Interactive Dialogue on the Philippines during the recently concluded 51st Session of the Human Rights Council.
As a manifestation of its strong commitment to the UPR, the Philippines contributes to the UPR Voluntary Fund and will co-sponsor a side event in New York on 3 November 2022 that aims to take stock of the UPR outcomes after 3 cycles and discuss experiences and good practices in this regard.
“These attest to the Philippines’ longstanding policy of transparency on its human rights record and openness to engage with UN mechanisms with a view to further strengthening the rule of law and governance structures for the advancement of human rights in the country,” Ambassador Garcia stated.
He further highlighted the Philippines’ support for the UN Secretary General’s call for the optimization of UPR outcomes and those of other human rights treaty bodies to advance the realization of the sustainable development goals.
Mr. Gianni Magazenni, Chief of the UPR Branch of the Office of High Commissioner for Human Rights, briefed the ACG on proposals and initiatives on enhancing complementarity between the UPR and other UN human rights mechanisms and improving country implementation of recommendations emanating from the UPR process.
The UPR started in 2007 pursuant to UNGA Resolution 60/251 of 2006 as a cooperative mechanism for peer review on the implementation of the human rights obligations of all 193 UN member states. The Philippines has participated in the past 3 cycles of the UPR – in 2008, 2012, and 2017. END
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