Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla is set to address on Wednesday, March 1, the participants in the 52nd Regular Session of the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council (HRC) in Geneva, Switzerland.
In a statement, the DOJ said Secretary Remulla is expected to talk on the “importance of upholding sovereignty and harnessing international solidarity in the promotion and protection of human rights.”
Also on March 1, the DOJ said Remulla – who leads the Philippine delegation -- is scheduled to meet with HRC President Vaclav Balek, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk, Australian Assistant Foreign Minister Tim Watts, and UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) Director General Majid Al Suwaldi.
It said that Remulla aims to “update the UNHRC and other partners on the progress of the Philippine government’s justice sector reforms under President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s larger human rights and development agenda….”
Today, Feb. 28, the DOJ said that Remulla is set to join a panel discussion on prison and justice sector reforms and human rights. The discussion was organized by the Philippines, Norway, and Thailand Permanent Missions to the UN and Other International Organizations in Geneva, it said.
At the same time, the DOJ said that Remulla is set to have a bilateral meeting with the European Union’s Special Representative for Human Rights.
It said “Secretary Remulla’s visit builds on the series of substantive and constructive engagements of the Philippines last year with the HRC, UN human rights treaty bodies and mechanisms, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders on human rights issues.”
“Last year, the Philippines underwent two consecutive dialogues with human rights treaty bodies, an enhanced interactive dialogue with the HRC, and other stakeholders on human rights issues,” it also said.