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Press Statement
June 28, 2008
References:
Rev. Fr. Rex Reyes Ms. Marie Hilao-Enriquez
General Secretary, National Council of Secretary General, KARAPATAN
Churches in the Philippines (NCCP) Member, UPR Watch Delegation
Head of UPR Watch Delegation Mobile No. 09178176274
Mobile No. 0918 944 7538
RP's Election as VP in UN HRC:
An Insult to Victims of Rights Violations
The Philippine UPR Watch, a network of human rights advocates, victims and
families of victims of human rights violations, is deeply insulted and
outraged at the election of the Philippines as Vice President of the UN
Human Rights Council (HRC). Our organizations, whose members bore the
brunt of the extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances and other
forms of human rights violations are appalled at this sad turn of events.
It is unfortunate enough that the Philippines was elected twice as a
member of the HRC. But it is mind boggling how a country with a
bloodstained human rights record could be accorded such position on the
rights body.
The delegation* of the UPR Watch that went to Geneva for the 8th Session
of the HRC witnessed how the Philippine Mission undermined the UN
mechanism particularly that of a Special Rapporteur. After the report of
Prof. Philip Alston, Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or
arbitrary executions, the Philippine Mission through Ambassador Erlinda F.
Basilio submitted a six-page statement lambasting and vilifying the report
and Prof. Philip Alston himself. Moreover, towards the end of the UPR
process, the Philippine government chose to ignore the recommendations of
Prof. Alston as well as the recommendation to invite other special
procedures to our country.
Adding insult to injury for the victims and their families, the election
of the Philippines as Vice-President shows that the Arroyo government has
earned undeserved points in the international community through lies and
cover ups. While it succeeded in painting a glossy picture of the
Philippine Government as a 'rights-based' State signing UN core documents
and enacting laws that supposedly protect the rights of its citizens, the
grim reality is that the killings, disappearances and other rights
violations continue with impunity. Here at home, it is a complete failure
in fulfilling its obligations to international rights treaties. Justice
for the victims remains elusive. Just recently, the families of Sherlyn
Cadapan and Karen Empeņo observed the 2nd year of their enforced
disappearance.
We will not be deterred. We will remain resolute in exposing human rights
abuses and steadfast in denouncing falsehood and hypocrisy. We will
continue the struggle for peace and justice in our country. ##
(*Philippine UPR Watch delegation for June 2008: Fr. Rex Reyes of the
National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP), Marie Enriquez of
Karapatan, Atty. Edre Olalia of the National Union of People's Lawyers (NUPL),
Edita Burgos of Desaparecidos, Donnie Mapanao of Migrante-Switzerland,
Trisha Garvida of Karapatan and Ed Cubelo of Toyota union-Philippines)
MEMBER OF UPR WATCH:
KARAPATAN * Hustisya * Desaparecidos * National Council of Churches in the
Philippines * BAYAN * IBON Foundation
Bayan Muna * IPHR-Monitor * GMA Watch
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