The Philippines on Tuesday stressed its commitment to promote human rights and protect the rights of migrants all over the world against abuse.

According to the DFA, the opening of the Manila Conference: Future of Migration underscores the lead role of the Philippines in the promotion and protection of 120 million migrants around the world.

“The Philippines prides itself as a global champion for the rights, welfare and protection of migrants,” said Undersecretary Sarah Lou Arriola in her opening speech.

She noted that during the seven rounds of GCM (Global Compact on Migration) intergovernmental negotiations, the Philippine delegation made sure that human rights and sustainable development are at the heart of the GCM.

Arriola said that President Duterte and DFA Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano are very clear in their directive to protect each and every Filipino migrant anywhere in the world. There are around 10 million Filipinos among the 120 million migrants around the world.

As a result of the negotiations among member-states, Arriola said a global compact on migration, called the “Intergovernmentally Negotiated and Agreed Outcome,” is set to be signed in Morocco this December.

However, she said the non-binding nature of the GCM puts more reason for the Philippines to keep the momentum and to pursue it towards the next steps: vigorous implementation and robust follow-up, and review.