To show its commitment to the protection of human rights for all Filipinos, the Philippine government is pushing through its partnership with the United Nations for strengthening the UN Joint Program (UNJP) on Human Rights, the first-ever between the UN and a member-state.
In a statement, Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said on Saturday that “the government is pleased with the steady progress in the work of the UNJP.”
“The shape and substance of UNJP have become clearer over the last months - notwithstanding the constraints of public health measures - through the active and inclusive collaboration between and among government agencies, the UN Resident Coordinator (UNRC), the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) and relevant civil society organizations,” he stressed.
In his remarks before the UN General Assembly last September 2020, President Duterte “affirmed in very clear terms the value placed by the Philippines on open dialogue and constructive engagement in human rights.”
The Philippines recently completed the first of UNJP activities with the successful Human Rights Summit headed by the Department of Justice (DOJ) in December 2020.
“The summit served as a platform for earnest and intelligent discourse and for advancing partnerships among various stakeholders on human rights - civil and political, as well as economic, social and cultural rights,” Andanar said.
Duterte also addressed the summit, stressing that the work to enhance access to justice and promote human rights to every Filipino “is far from over.”
He also encouraged the summit to “strengthen the multi-sectoral engagement that would foster a healthy human rights environment for all.”
But Andanar noted that the joint program “is not an end to itself.” Rather, he said that the UNJP is “a pathway among many, in the dynamic and spirited national process to address gaps and further elevate institutional processes and mechanisms for human rights, rule of law and accountability up to par with the highest standards.”
It also marks the country’s “successful and productive” engagement with the United Nations, as well as with its regional and bilateral partners on human rights issues.
“The government endeavors to create the best conditions for the UNJP to flourish, so that it can meaningfully support the good governance agenda and the goals to uplift the welfare, promote the dignity and protect the rights of the Filipino people,” Andanar said.
In November, key government officials, representatives from human rights groups, and the UN resident coordinator endorsed the key areas, projects, outputs, and outcomes of the joint program.
The United Nations has repeatedly called on the Philippines to address its human rights issues. The agency is particularly alarmed about the human rights abuses committed under the President’s bloody war on drugs campaign.