PHILIPPINES LAUDED FOR CONSTRUCTIVE ENGAGEMENT WITH CIVIL SOCIETY AND BICOL MAYOR AWARDED AS RIGHTS PROTECTOR

21 December 2007 – Amnesty International led civil society groups in extending to RP its role in constructive engagement with civil society in the preparation of the national report for the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) mechanism of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC).

The Permanent Mission of the Philippines, Switzerland, Morocco and Brazil, and the Office of the United Nations Commissioner on Human Rights (OHCHR) organized a side event during the UN HRC’s 6^th session in Geneva on “Best Practices: Engaging Civil Society in the UPR.” The event was well attended by civil society representatives and government delegates who are participants in the UN HRC session.

Ambassador Erlinda F. Basilio, Philippine Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva, delivered a presentation on the approach and methodologies the Philippine Government authorities are implementing to take into account the views of civil society in the preparation of the UPR’s national report which is in accordance with guidelines adopted by the UN HRC. The preparation of the report should be done through broad consultations with relevant stakeholders.

Ambassador Basilio stated that “ as a founding member of the UN HRC,  the Philippines has pledged to continue to help and assist the Council in promoting constructive engagement with civil society, and ensuring opportunities for the contribution of civil society to the work of the Council.”

Ambassador Basilio gave an overview of the activities of the Presidential Human Rights Committee and the Department of Foreign Affairs in briefing civil society groups on the UPR.

Civil Society groups encouraged that other states follow the open and constructive approach of the co-organizers of the event in the preparation of the UPR. The side-event on UPR was held in conjunction with the celebration of the 59^th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights.

The Philippines will be the 10^th state to be reviewed under the new UPR process, a new mechanism established by the UN General Assembly UNGA) and UN HRC which will review the status of the promotion and protection of human rights in all 192 countries of the world in a fair, objective, and cooperative manner.

In a related event, Mayor Jesse Robredo of Naga City in Bicol was awarded the “2007 Protector Award” of the Center for Housing Rights and Evictions (COHRE) on 5 December 2007 at the Palais des Nations.

Mayor Robredo’s achievements in facilitating the effective relocation of informal settlers into vibrant communities with adequate housing in Naga City were particularly cited as best practice models for local governments throughout the world.

COHRE is a Geneva-based NGO which works on housing rights advocacy. END.

/allan

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