By Xinhua,
Manila : The Philippines has been elected vice-president of the Geneva-based United Nations Human Rights Council representing Asia, said the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Sunday.
The Philippines, through its permanent mission to the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, will serve a one-year term as vice-president, said DFA in a statement.
The country’s election to the post demonstrates “the confidence of the international community in the Philippines as an active and constructive member of the United Nations committed to the promotion and protection of human rights,” said DFA.
Philippine Ambassador Erlinda Basilio will represent the Philippines in the council meetings, said DFA
“In the spirit of this commitment, and in the desire to promote genuine international dialogue and cooperation on human rights issues, the Philippines shall do its utmost to serve effectively as vice-president of the Human Rights Council,” the DFA said.
“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,” it added.
This year, the Philippines presented its comprehensive response to a final report by the United Nations Human Rights Council on its human rights situation, and was one of the first countries to undergo the new Universal Periodic Review mechanism of the Human Rights Council, a holistic review and assessment of all countries’ human rights obligations.
The Philippines likewise presented a periodic report on implementation of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
In March 2008, Foreign Secretary Alberto Romulo reiterated the Philippine Government’s strong commitment to uphold human rights and democratic governance at the High-Level Segment of the Human Rights Council.
During the Human Rights Council session the Philippines has partnered with Germany to introduce a resolution to renew the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons especially in women and children.
The Philippines also co-sponsored the resolution on extreme poverty introduced by France which renewed the mandate of the independent expert on extreme poverty.
Both resolutions have been adopted by the United Nations.