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Palace cheers UNHRC’s adoption of 3rd PHL periodic rights review


Malacañang on Saturday welcomed the United Nations Human Rights Council’s final adoption of the Third Philippine Universal Periodic Review (UPR), which recognizes the government's respect for human dignity amid the war on illegal drugs.

"The adoption of the Philippine UPR report in Geneva recognizes the human rights record of the Philippines and our country’s commitment to human rights under the leadership of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte," Presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella said Saturday in a statement.

"This likewise reaffirms our respect for the dignity of the Filipino people and the protection of the Filipino family as we strive for a better life in a society free of illegal drugs and other crimes," he added.

The Palace congratulated officials for successfully "explaining to the world" the Philippines' policies, practices, commitments and obligations in the area of human rights.

"We congratulate the efforts of Department of Foreign Affairs Secretary (DFA) and the Philippine team in Geneva for their tireless efforts in explaining to the world our policies, practices, commitments and obligations in the area of human rights," Abella said.

The UPR is a mechanism to promote cooperation with the government in enhancing the protection and promotion of human rights and address any violations.

Among the principal issues raised by the UPR were President Rodrigo Duterte's campaign against drugs, extra-judicial killings and the proliferation of vigilante groups.

It is conducted by the UPR Working Group consisting of 47 members. The outcome or draft report is then adopted once more by the HRC.

Ten days prior, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano and Philippine Deputy Permanent Representative Maria Teresa Almojuela scolded High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein for being "highly biased and [for his] sweeping generalizations" against the Philippine government and its regard for human rights in the country.

Al Hussein in June criticized Duterte and US President Donald Trump for their alleged respective support for torture and extra-judicial killings, saying they were allegedly breaking "breaking long-held taboos." —LBG, GMA News

 

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