CHR hopeful gov’t will accept remaining UPR recommendations

The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) is hopeful that the Philippine government will accept the remaining recommendations from member states of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), newly-appointed commissioner Beda Epres said.

The country had accepted 200 out of the 289 recommendations made by member-states during the Universal Periodic Review.

“Hopeful po kami na sana after ng review ng Philippine government ay tanggapin din po nila or that they will give a favorable response dito sa mga 89 recommendations nitong member-states at nung observers,” Epres said in "The Mangahas Interviews" aired on Monday.

(We are hopeful that the Philippine government will give a favorable response to the 89 recommendations given by the member-states and observers.)

According to the Department of Justice, some of the major recommendations accepted include the promotion of the rights of children, the protection of women’s rights, the promotion of the rights of indigenous people, and greater protection of civic space.

Meanwhile, the government outrightly rejected the legalization of abortion and the matter of divorce. Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla also said the country is culturally not ready for same-sex marriage.

ICC, EJKs, red-tagging

Meanwhile, Epres said the CHR also supports the country’s rejoining the International Criminal Court (ICC).

“’Yun pong pagbabalik sa ICC, sinusuportahan po ‘yan ng CHR. Kasi para sa amin, ang pagbabalik sa ICC will give the people parang another legal remedy,” Epres said.

(The CHR supports the Philippines’ return to the ICC. Because we believe it will give people another legal remedy.)

The Philippines withdrew from the Rome Statute, which established the ICC, under the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. had said that the country has no intention of rejoining the ICC.

Epres said the CHR also supports an independent investigation into extra-judicial killings.

He also said that red-tagging is a “curtailment of the freedom of expression.”

“Hindi porket binabatikos mo ang gobyerno ay ire-red tag ka na agad na parang sasabihin meron ka nang inkling sa kung saang grupo mo. Sinusuportahan po ng CHR ang pag tigil nitong red-tagging,” he said.

(You should not be red-tagged just because you criticize the government. The CHR supports efforts to end red-tagging.) 

SOGIE bill

Meanwhile, the CHR urged the government to see the Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and Expression (SOGIE) Equality Bill as a fulfillment of its obligation to ensure that every individual is treated equally and free from harm.

This was after Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said the Philippine delegation in the UPR rejected the SOGIE Bill. 

Remulla said the UN member states wanted the SOGIE bill for same-sex marriage.

"Rights to equality and non-discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation are also entrenched in international human rights obligations to which the Philippines is a State party," it said.

The CHR said it was open to having a dialogue with the government so it may address misconceptions about the bill.

It said the bill does not contain any provision for same-sex civil unions, nor does it grant special rights to the LGBTQIA community.

"The bill, at its core, seeks to ensure that the rights enjoyed by all are also enjoyed by the members of the LGBTQI community, who are often pushed to the sidelines and further marginalized due to a lack of protection against discrimination and harm," it said.

The CHR called on the government to keep an open mind as national pronouncements rejecting the protection of the community may downplay the efforts of local governments.

"There may also be others who may feel emboldened to further discrimination and harm in communities against members of the LGBTQIA with these statements under the cloak of religious freedom," it said. —KG/VBL, GMA Integrated News