(Photo courtesy of UN)
MANILA – The Philippine government has completed talks with the United Nations (UN) on planned technical cooperation projects on human rights, Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Menardo Guevarra said on Tuesday.
“The Philippine government, led by the DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs) and the DOJ, has completed its negotiations with the UN regarding the joint program on technical cooperation on human rights,” Guevarra told newsmen in a text message.
The project’s documents will be circulated to other concerned government agencies for their endorsements.
The DOJ chief said funding will be provided by the UN over a three-year period, "subject to Philippine compliance with certain measurable outputs".
The UN Human Rights Council adopted on October 7, 2020 a resolution endorsing support for Philippine efforts to further strengthen its human rights mechanisms.
It acknowledges the Philippines’ strong and open engagement with the UN, and promotes the provision of technical assistance from UN agencies and international partners in work areas on rule of law, justice, law enforcement, and accountability processes, at the invitation of the government and in accordance with national priorities.
“The Council urges Member States, relevant United Nations agencies and other stakeholders to encourage and support technical cooperation between the Government of the Philippines and the Office of the High Commissioner with a view to improving the situation of human rights in the country in response to the Government’s requests for technical assistance and capacity-building,” the resolution read.
Iceland and the Philippines introduced the resolution while Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Canada, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Malaysia, Malta, Myanmar, Nepal, New Zealand, Norway, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, Somalia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, and Turkey all supported it.
During the adoption proceedings, Ambassador Evan P. Garcia, Philippine Permanent Representative to the UN, said the resolution "signifies unifying outcomes that arise when states recognize their common interest in promoting positive models of engagement in the Council that respect the principles of objectivity and non-interference and uphold the primary role of States as duty-bearers." (PNA)
