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By Dr. Alberto G. Romulo, Secretary of Foreign Affairs
Address on the occasion of the High-Level
Segment 7th Session, United Nations Human Rights Council, March
2008, Geneva, Switzerland
Drafting the Universal Declaration on Human
Rights was a difficult undertaking.
As a member of the very first Commission of
Human Rights, the Philippines takes pride in its role in formulating
the Universal Declaration.
The Philippine delegation—led by General
Carlos P. Romulo—explained the Draft Declaration thus:
“The primary purpose of the Declaration is not
simply to achieve a moral success, but to enable man, all over the
world to develop his rights and, in consequence, his personality. It
is essential that he should feel confident that the executive,
legislative and judicial powers could not impair his fundamental
rights.”
In the end, despite the divergence of views, the
world acted with resolve, found common ground and adopted the
Declaration during the 3rd General Assembly.
Continuing challenges
Sixty years later, we find ourselves in a world
drastically changed—yet ironically the same in many respects.
We have clearly advanced in upholding,
protecting and promoting human rights.
But we continue to face both traditional and new
challenges to human rights.
Non-state forces such as terrorist
gangs—preying on ignorance and poverty—wreak havoc on innocent
populations, violating their basic human right to live in peace.
But our resolve remains firm: we must continue
to move on in our common cause.
The Philippine resolve
We are proud that the Philippines has made
steady progress in upholding, protecting, and promoting human
rights.
Our democracy —the oldest in Asia—was
founded on the sanctity of human life and the dignity of the human
person.
We have abolished capital punishment.
We protect the life of the unborn.
We have kept alive our tradition of political
liberties by strengthening democratic institutions and processes
that make our Government representative, limited and accountable.
We are working with our people—within
Government and with civil society—and with the international
community to advance human rights.
Already, we have strengthened the capacities and
capabilities of our agencies to protect and promote human rights.
The Philippines is one of the few countries to
have ratified all seven core international human-rights treaties.
Last year, I signed the Convention on the Rights
of Disabled Persons. We also signed the Second Optional Protocol to
the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
We completed and submitted our periodic reports
under the Convention on Migrant Workers, the Convention Against
Torture and the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
We are prepared for the Universal Periodic
Review and the national human rights action plan.
We are also prepared for the periodic review
under the Optional Protocol on Children in Armed Conflict, the
Convention of the Rights of the Child, as well as the Convention on
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
Broadening human rights
Beyond our borders, we work with our partners in
Southeast Asia to broaden the frontiers of human rights protection
and to reinforce our shared commitment to uphold human rights.
Asean signed its landmark Charter this year in
Singapore.
But before Asean could breathe life into this
historic document, and give birth to a regional human rights
mechanism, it is the Philippines’ stand that protection and
promotion of human rights should be at the heart of every member’s
commitment to the Charter.
The Philippines will continue to articulate this
position.
Vulnerable groups
An area of particular interest to Asean—in the
regional and global contex—is the protection of the rights of
vulnerable groups such as women, children and migrant workers. In
our collective march to growth and development, we must not leave
behind the weak and the defenseless.
We followed through this commitment during the
12th Asean Summit in Cebu:
Asean members agreed to extend assistance to
Asean nationals in distress in third countries.
To bolster global efforts to give sustained
attention to these vulnerable groups, the Philippines encourages the
extension of the mandates of the Special Rapporteur on Trafficking
in Persons, especially Women and Children, and the Special
Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Migrants.
We must also redouble our efforts to understand
the impact of globalization on the individual human being. As host
of the 2nd Global Forum on Migration and Development this October,
the Philippines takes this opportunity to invite you all to attend.
Another Philippine initiative, Interfaith
Dialogue, is drawing wide and enthusiastic support from the
international community.
Even as we seek to promote dialogue between
peoples of different creeds, faiths and religions, we underscore the
commonalities that bind us into a single, indivisible human family.
Meaningful dialogue proceeds from an
awareness and understanding of what is inherent in all of us—our
human rights.
Our human rights are both our bond and our
weapon against the extremism espoused by terrorists.
We urge our partners to join us in this endeavor
to promote Interfaith Dialogue.
Towards a stronger HRC
The Human Rights Council is the most important
international forum to breathe renewed life to the global efforts to
protect, promote and uphold human rights.
Membership in the Council is an honor and a
responsibility.
The Philippines is keenly aware of the
confidence reposed on us by the community of nations.
We thank you all for electing us to another
term.
The Philippines is among the pioneer countries
that will evaluate—and be evaluated by—the Universal Periodic
Review.
We repose great hope in the Universal Periodic
Review or UPR. In its success, we hope to find the basis for
international cooperation in promoting and protecting human rights.
The Review and its recommendations should prove
crucial in enhancing the capacities of nations to fulfill their
human rights obligations.
The process will prepare a national human rights
action plan that sets standards for achieving human rights
objectives and identifying the means of accomplishing them.
Hence the Review should be an instrument for
cohesion and not a device for increasing tensions between
member-countries.
The full development of the human person is the
main objective for our human rights efforts.
Moving forward
Six decades after the Universal Declaration was
adopted, our world continues to face challenges to the universal
protection and promotion of human rights. We have made significant
strides—yet we have a great deal more to do.
The Human Rights Council should bring us
together, as one global community engaged in a common cause.
To commemorate and promote the Universal
Declaration, the Philippine Government pledges to donate to the
Special Fund of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human
Rights.
Sixty years ago, we responded to the challenge
of protecting human rights with our collective resolve in adopting
the Universal Declaration.
That same passion and resolve we carry in our
hearts and minds today. With human rights at the center of our
synergy of interaction, we should not—we shall not—fail.
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