Another UN Special Rapporteur is coming to the Philippines to “appreciate the well-rooted and flourishing democracy” of the country, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Saturday, Jan. 20.

Irene Khan, UN’s rapporteur on Freedom of Opinion and Expression, will be in the country from Jan. 23 to Feb. 2 as the government expressed confidence in the importance of meaningful dialogues and meetings with the government, media, and the civil society organizations.

“Ms. Khan will see for herself the transparency and progressive agenda of the government with respect to the promotion and protection of freedom of speech and expression,” the DFA said.

According to the agency, Khan’s visit proves the open, sustained, and sincere cooperation of the Philippine government with bilateral and regional partners and the UN, “on many fronts, where the country promotes its human rights-based development agenda and good governance as well as its contributions in strengthening global norms to uphold human rights and dignity.”

Khan is the third special rapporteur to pay the Philippines a visit in just 14 months after the Fatimah Singhateh, for the sale and exploitation of children, in November 2022; and Dr. Ian Fry, for the SR for Climate Change and Human Rights in November 2023.

The SR for extrajudicial, summary, or arbitrary executions, Mr. Morris Tidball-Binz, was invited by the Department of Justice for an academic visit in February 2023.

“The Philippines cooperates in good faith with international human rights mechanisms, and supports funding for cooperation to build human rights capacities in developing countries,” DFA said.

“The Philippines takes pride in its human rights agenda, built over decades and across different administrations, which has set important benchmarks in the protection and promotion of the rights of various marginalized communities, including migrant workers, women, children, indigenous peoples, refugees, stateless persons, individuals with disabilities, and other vulnerable groups,” it added.