PH Joins ASEAN Partners in Dialogue with the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights

The ASEAN Committee in Geneva composed of the Permanent Representatives of the ten ASEAN member states holds a dialogue with UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on 29 November 2022 at the Hotel President Wilson.

GENEVA 06 December 2022 — Philippine Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN) and other international organizations in Geneva Evan P. Garcia joined the other ASEAN Permanent Representatives in Geneva in a dialogue with Mr. Volker Türk, the newly appointed UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, on 29 November 2022 at the Hotel President Wilson.

Chaired by Cambodia as Chair of the ASEAN Committee in Geneva, ASEAN Permanent Representatives and UN HCHR Volker Türk exchanged views on progress and challenges in human rights promotion and protection in the ASEAN region, engagement and cooperation of ASEAN members states with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), and potential areas of cooperation, including capacity building and technical assistance.

Ambassador Garcia noted that the Philippines has recently undergone major reviews on its compliance with international human rights obligations, particularly the Convention on the Rights of the Child in September and International Convention on Civil and Political Rights in October this year. The Philippines also underwent the 4th cycle Universal Periodic Review of the Human Rights Council (HRC) where the government accepted 200 recommendations on various human rights issues.

Ambassador Garcia shared his observations on current dynamics in the HRC stressing the importance of constructive engagement that fully respects the role of the State as a sovereign duty bearer. The Ambassador noted that the United Nations Joint Program (UNJP) on Human Rights is an example of such an approach to human rights action and is meant to support national initiatives, including the ongoing law enforcement and justice reforms being undertaken by the Department of Justice. 

He further said that Philippines is one of the pilot countries for the OHCHR’s National Recommendations Tracking Database, which is hoped to enhance the capacity of government agencies to monitor and implement human rights recommendations arising from the UPR and constructive dialogues with treaty bodies.

Ambassador Garcia reaffirmed the Philippines commitment to work closely with the OHCHR on issues of common interest within the framework of ASEAN and in its national capacity. END

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