PH Highlights Justice Sector Reforms to Further Strengthen Accountability at Human Rights Review in UN
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla during the 4th cycle Universal Periodic Review of the Philippines by the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council (HRC) held on 14 November 2022 in Geneva, Switzerland.
GENEVA, 14 November 2022 – Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla reaffirmed the Philippine Government’s openness to enhancing existing partnerships and forging new ones to advance human rights, including ongoing justice sector reforms, at the 4th cycle Universal Periodic Review of the Philippines by the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council (HRC) held on 14 November 2022 in Geneva, Switzerland.
Secretary Remulla briefed the HRC on the progress in the implementation of the national agenda on human rights since the 3rd cycle of the UPR in 2017. He highlighted the Philippines’ acceptance and implementation of 103 out of the 257 recommendations focused on issues related to the right to development; environment; human rights and counter-terrorism; right to life, liberty, and security of persons; administration of justice; prohibition of all forms of slavery, among others.
Secretary Remulla particularly noted that the Philippines hosts Rohingya refugees, providing them free education through the Complementary Pathway program, and is in discussions with partners, including the Office of the UN High Commissioner on Human Rights and the US, on the possibility of the country temporarily hosting other persons at risk.
The Justice Secretary also underscored the pursuit and directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. towards strengthening national accountability mechanisms through “comprehensive, transformational reforms across all five pillars of our justice system to deliver real justice in real time to the Filipino people.” He cited the current administration’s people-centered and comprehensive governance and development agenda to ensure the Filipino people’s economic, social, and cultural rights, prioritizing agriculture, agrarian reform, health, education, infrastructure development, energy, social welfare and development, employment, the environment, and climate change mitigation and adaptation.
Secretary Remula highlighted significant breakthroughs of the current Administration such as the prompt indictment of a high-ranking government official in relation to the Percy Lapid case; release of 728 persons deprived of liberty; streamlining of investigative and accountability processes for better case build-up; indictment of 25 police officers resulting from the work of the Review Panel that looks into incidents in the context of the anti-illegal drug campaign; and the dismissal from service of 27 police officers, demotion of 18 and suspension of 98 officers and filing of criminal charges on abuse cases in the Philippine National Police within its ranks, among others.
“The Government does not hesitate to take action when there is compelling evidence to do so and this should dispel the mistaken notion of a culture of impunity in our country. We will not tolerate the denial of justice nor any violation of human rights,” Secretary Remulla said.
He also welcomed partnerships that respect the sovereignty and agency of the Philippine Government to fulfill its obligations and do right by its own people. He met with UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary execution Morris Tidball-Bin on 13 November 2022 to discuss the next steps for the planned training program on the Minnesota Protocol on the Investigation of Potentially Unlawful Death for authorities, with the participation of the Commission on Human Rights and other stakeholders.
Other members of the Philippine delegation were Philippine UN Permanent Representative Evan P. Garcia, Justice Undersecretary Jesse H. T. Andres, Justice Undersecretary Raul T. Vasquez, Undersecretary Severo S. Catura of the Presidential Human Rights Committee Secretariat (PHRCS), and other officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of Justice, PHRCS, and the Permanent Mission of the Philippines to the United Nations in Geneva.
The UPR is a State-led review process of all 193 UN member states’ implementation of human rights obligations through a constructive dialogue among states and other stakeholders, including national human rights institutions and NGOs. It started in 2007 pursuant to UNGA Resolution 60/251 of 2006.
The Philippines joins 13 other States – Algeria, Bahrain, Brazil, Ecuador, Finland, India, Indonesia, Morocco, Netherlands, Poland, South Africa, Tunisia, and the United Kingdom – as a state under review during the 41st Session of the UPR Working Group scheduled from 7 to 18 November 2022. The Philippines has participated in the past 3 cycles of the UPR – in 2008, 2012, and 2017. END
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla during the 4th cycle Universal Periodic Review of the Philippines by the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council (HRC) held on 14 November 2022 in Geneva, Switzerland.