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Not only is Philippine Permanent Representative to
the United Nations in Geneva Erlinda Basilio the first Filipino to
be elected vice president of the UN Human Rights Council, she is
also the first woman to be elected to that post since the council
was established in 2006.
Basilio was elected on June 19 in
Geneva to serve as vice president representing the Asian group of
states and will serve a one-year term.
Basilio’s election demonstrates
the confidence of the international community in the Philippines as
an active and constructive member of the UN, and committed to the
promotion and protection of human rights.
Despite consistent moves by some
groups to politicize the human rights situation in the country, the
Philippines is deeply honored by the vote of confidence of the
international community in its active role in the human rights
council.
This year, the Philippines
successfully presented its comprehensive response to the final
report of UN Special Rapporteur Philip Alston, and was one of the
first countries to undergo the new Universal Periodic Review
mechanism of the Human Rights Council, which is a holistic review
and assessment of all countries’ human rights obligations.
In March 2008, Foreign Secretary
Alberto Romulo reiterated the Philippine government’s strong
commitment to uphold human rights and democratic governance during
the high-level segment of the human rights council.
During the council’s session,
the Philippines partnered with Germany to introduce a resolution to
renew the mandate of the special rapporteur on the trafficking in
persons especially in women and children. The resolution received
co-sponsorship of 79 countries and was adopted unanimously by the
council.
The Philippines also co-sponsored
the resolution on extreme poverty introduced by France which renewed
the mandate of the independent expert on extreme poverty. The
resolution was co-sponsored by 72 other countries and was adopted
unanimously by the council.
--Katrice R. Jalbuena
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