Uphold Sovereignty, Harness Solidarity for Human Rights and Dignity – SOJ Tells UN Rights Body
Secretary of Justice Jesus Crispin C. Remulla delivers the Philippine Statement at the High-Level Segment of the 52nd Regular Session of the Human Rights Council on 1 March 2023 at the Palais des Nations, Geneva, Switzerland. (Geneva PM photo)
GENEVA, 03 March 2023 – Philippine Secretary of Justice Jesus Crispin C. Remulla participated in the High-Level Segment of the 52nd Regular Session of the Human Rights Council (HRC52) on 01 March 2023 in Geneva, Switzerland, underscoring the importance of upholding sovereignty and harnessing solidarity for the promotion and protection of human rights and dignity for all.
Noting the Philippines’ contribution, through General Carlos P. Romulo, to the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948, Secretary Remulla reaffirmed the Marcos’ Administration’s “solemn and continuing commitment to human rights and human dignity for all” and outlined the justice department’s comprehensive reform agenda “to ensure that the Rule of Law prevails, and that every Filipino is afforded an efficient, fair, meaningful, and inexpensive administration of justice”.
“A strong justice system is vital to the protection of human dignity”, he said.
Secretary Remulla also highlighted the Philippines’ tradition of open engagement with international partners, including civil society, citing last year’s constructive dialogue with the Committee on the Rights of the Child and the Committee on Civil and Political Rights, Enhanced Interactive Dialogue in the Human Rights Council (HRC), and 4th Cycle Universal Periodic Review where the Philippines accepted 215 out of 289 recommendations from UN member states.
Secretary Remulla shared that last week the Philippine Government welcomed a group of parliamentarians from the European Union to discuss human rights issues. Constructive dialogues between the Philippines and the Committees on the Rights of Migrant Workers and their Families and on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, as well as the country visit of UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression are scheduled later this year.
Towards this end, the DOJ is working with the UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary execution, Mr. Morris Tidball-Binz, on a capacity-building program to train Filipino medical practitioners in forensic pathology in July 2023.
On the decision of the International Criminal Court to resume investigations over alleged crimes committed during the government's legitimate campaign against illegal drugs, Secretary Remulla said that “the Philippines has a fully functioning justice system” and that the ICC has therefore no jurisdiction over Filipino citizens under the complementarity principle.
“Let us heed the lessons of the past. Unjustified external interference has very rarely, if at all, served the cause of human rights,” he added.
International human rights mechanisms must focus more on capacitating states to effectively fulfill their obligations as duty-bearers and amplify the call for climate justice urging those most responsible for climate change to fulfill their obligations “to afford the developing world the bounties of the right to development”.
“National sovereignty and international solidarity go hand in hand, complement each other, and create the fertile ground in which human rights can truly flourish. Let us uphold sovereignty and harness solidarity to promote and protect human rights and dignity for all,” Secretary Remulla stated.
The High-Level Segment of HRC52 takes place from 27 February to 2 March 2023 at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, with heads of states/governments, ministers of foreign affairs, and other high officials of member states and international organizations delivering statements.
Joining Secretary Remulla in the Philippine delegation to the HLS of HRC52 were Amb. Evan P. Garcia, Philippine Permanent Mission to the UN in Geneva (Geneva PM), Justice Undersecretary Jesse H. T. Andres, Justice Undersecretary Raul T. Vasquez, First Secretary Luningning Camoying Valdez, Geneva PM, and Second Secretary Jet C. Olfato, Geneva PM. END
Responding to issues on accountability raised during last year’s dialogues with UN human rights mechanisms, Secretary Remulla reiterated that there is no culture of impunity in the country and that the government is doubling efforts to ensure that individuals who violate the law, including state actors, are brought to justice. (Geneva PM photo)
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