PHL assumes UN rights council membership – Nation – GMA News Online – Latest Philippine News.

The Philippines formally assumed last week its membership in the prestigious United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), the Department of Foreign Affairs said Tuesday.

Philippine Permanent Representative Ambassador Evan Garcia said it was an honor for the Philippines to serve as a member of the UN body.

A news release on the DFA website quoted Garcia as saying the Philippines “looked forward to working closely with all members and relevant stakeholders of the Council.”

The Philippines had received 183 votes in elections held in the UN General Assembly in May 2011 to re-enter the UN human rights body.

It previously served as a founding member of the UNHRC from 2006 to 2010.

Garcia reported on Philippine initiatives at the recently concluded 17th session of the Human Rights Council. Among the items covered in the report are:

1. The HRC adopted by consensus the Philippines and Germany’s resolution on combating trafficking in persons, especially women and children, which strengthens the mandate of the UN Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons.

At least 87 countries, including the United States, the European Union, and Japan co-sponsored the resolution.

2. The Philippines teamed up with Bangladesh to issue a landmark joint statement on the negative impacts of climate change on human rights, particularly on peoples living in developing countries and small island states.

The statement called on the HRC and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) to give more attention to the implications of climate change on human rights.

Read full article @ GMAnews.tv

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HRonlinePH says…

The Asian Forum on Human Rights or otherwise known as Forum-Asia, a human rights defenders solidarity organizations of National Human Rights Organizations in Asia released their statement and reaction on the vagueness of UN HRC election process.  Please read here. 

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