The United Nations (UN) has offered to help the country ensure that the controversial Anti-Terrorism law does not violate human rights, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said Monday.
“We take this opportunity to thank the United Nations – through the UN Resident Coordinator – for their offer of technical assistance in the undertaking to ensure that the anti-terrorism rules conform to the fundamental tenets of human rights laws,” said Guevarra in his speech during the start of the three-day Philippine Human Rights Summit being held at the Philippine International Convention Center in Manila.
Guevarra said that the offer was made not because the UN found something wrong.
“The UN simply wants us to have a glimpse of best practices worldwide and tweak our own, if desired,” the Justice Secretary explained.
During the event, UN Resident Coordinator Gustavo Gonzales bared this is part of a UN Joint Programme on Human Rights in the Philippines set next year.
“We will work with the Government of the Philippines, the Human Rights Commission, and civil society organizations, and we will draw on international experience and best practices to address human rights challenges,” the Argentinian UN official said.
Gonzales explained the program seeks to strengthen the accountability mechanisms, promote more rights-based policy approaches, empower rights holders, and contribute to bringing the State and civil society closer together.
“While we are aware that there are many challenges, I am strong in my conviction that we will be able to rise to meet them together,” Gonzales stated.
Guevarra noted that the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of the law have amplified “the protection accorded by the anti-terrorism law to the exercise of civil and political rights that do not endanger life or public safety.”
“The rules implementing the law now clarify that the burden to prove intent to endanger life or public safety is a burden upon the prosecution,” he said.
“This prevents abuse of the law to trifle with our people’s exercise of their most fundamental rights.”
The Justice Secretary said “the implementing rules mandate the publication by the Anti-Terrorism Council (ATC) of the names of persons it designates as terrorists.”