Philippines retains place on UN’s Human Rights Council

Human Rights Council
The Philippines will now serve another three-year term on the UN’s Human Rights Council

The Philippines has secured another term on the UN’s Human Rights Council, alongside countries including Bahrain, Eritrea and Somalia.

The country’s second three-year term of membership of the 47-member council was supported by 165 votes cast by 192 UN member states in New York.

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Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano welcomed the vote today (Saturday, October 13) and thanked the UN member-states who “clearly understood where we are coming from”.

“Our successful bid to keep our seat in the council is proof that many in the international community remain convinced the Philippines respects and protects human rights and have seen through the efforts of some to politicise and weaponise the issue,” he said in a statement.

As well as the Philippines, the 18 countries elected or re-elected today were Argentina, Austria, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Czech Republic, Denmark, Eritrea, Fiji, India, Italy, Somalia, Togo and Uruguay.

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Other members of the Geneva-based council include Afghanistan, Cuba, China, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Iraq, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. 

Human Rights Council ‘a mockery’

The USA quit the council in June this year, saying it “makes a mockery of human rights”, particularly in regard to its stance on Israel.

Cayetano said the Philippines retained its seat for a second term despite a well-orchestrated effort to paint “a wrong picture” of the human rights situation in the country.

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Denouncing Human Rights Watch and other non-government organisations, he said: “It’s budget season in Europe. That’s why they’re noisy, because they want to get additional budget.

“If you want to talk human rights, we’re here. Let’s sit down. But if you just want to criticise us from afar and don’t want to give solutions, and just keep saying, ‘You’re right, we’re wrong’, it’s helping no one except you and your finances.” 

He also made the point that, as a major exporter of labour, the Philippines deserved a seat on the council due to the importance of migration as a human rights issue.

“Us, with 10 million Filipinos abroad, we know the struggle of a migrant,” he said.

 

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