The Philippine government is set to launch on Dec. 10, 2024 the comprehensive and progressive blueprint on human rights, the Department of Justice (DOJ) and United Nations (UN) Office of the Resident Coordinator of the Philippines said in a joint announcement on Wednesday, August 7.
The announcement stated that the launching of the Fourth Philippine Human Rights Plan (PHRP4) will coincide with the December 10 celebration of the International Human Rights Day.
The DOJ and the UN Office of Resident Coordinator said that PHRP4 is "a comprehensive and progressive blueprint for protecting human rights and addressing emerging human rights issues, such as the rights of older persons and human rights and climate change.”
“To date, five of eight joint regional consultations for the on-going development of the PHRP4 have been conducted involving 319 civil society organizations of various advocacies,” they noted.
They said the PHRP4 is one of three important initiatives that the Philippine government announced during the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in Geneva last December.
The other two are the Special Committee on Human Rights Coordination (SCHRC) that was created through Administrative Order No. 22 that was signed by President Marcos last May 8, and the Forensics Institute that the Philippine government seeks to establish.
“The SCHRC institutionalizes a more comprehensive inter-agency coordination platform and a robust multi-stakeholder process for the promotion and protection of human rights through dialogue and joint monitoring, actively engaging civil society,” the DOJ and UN said.
“The Committee will set out pathways for coherent, solutions-oriented and accountable partnerships with wide range partners,” they said.
On the other hand, they said the Forensics Institute will serve as “a training and learning institution, as well as a fully operational investigative facility that professionalizes and elevates the standard of law enforcement and justice delivery of the country.”
“The Philippines will engage with bilateral, regional and UN partners to leverage the best available experts on these fronts,” they also said.