Non-politicized visits of UN human rights officials beneficial to PHL
Philippine delegation to the meetings was headed by Undersecretary Angelo Tapales, executive director of the Council for the Welfare of Children.
Mama Fatimah Singhateh, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the sale and sexual exploitation of children (3rd from right), recommends the setting up of specialized homes for child victims of sale and sexual exploitation, transition centers, and specialized children’s courts in the Philippines, during the recent exit conference on her 10-day visit to the Philippines. With Singhateh are (from left to right): Antara Singh (3rd from left) of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights; Council for the Welfare of Children Executive Director, Undersecretary Angelo Tapales (2nd from left); Presidential Human Rights Committee Secretariat Executive Director, Undersecretary Severo Catura (2nd from right); CHR Commissioner Beda Epres (rightmost); and DFA Deputy Assistant Secretary Noemi Diaz (leftmost). PHRCS Photo
It is beneficial to the government and Filipinos when visits of United Nations Special Rapporteurs on human rights are spared from politicking by groups perennially critical of governments.
This, according to Undersecretary Severo Catura, Executive Director of the Presidential Human Rights Committee Secretariat under the Office of the President.
"We are glad that we have seen these dynamics at the recent visit by one UNSR in the country," Catura said, referring to the 10-day country visit of the UNSR on the sale and sexual exploitation of children, Mama Fatima Singhateh.
Singhateh was accompanied by Antara Singh, human rights officer from the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Such visits, Catura said, when not taken advantage of by interest groups whose sole purpose is to blame and shame the government for alleged shortcomings in fulfilling its human rights obligations, can lead to sharing of best practices and honest discussions that eventually lead to the effective resolution of human rights concerns.
Singhateh's visit from 28 November to 7 December included thematic cluster meetings with representatives from the Philippine executive, legislative, and judicial branches. It covered also the areas of prevention, protection, justice, and rehabilitation.
The Philippine delegation to the meetings was headed by Undersecretary Angelo Tapales, executive director of the Council for the Welfare of Children.
Children's centers visited
Part of the UNSR's agenda was to visit children's centers managed by either the local government or private groups in Metro Manila, Valenzuela, Angeles, Cebu, Tagbilaran, and Cotabato where dialogues with children and civil society organizations working on child welfare issues were held.
"The freedom of movement and inquiry afforded by the government that allowed Madame Singhateh to meet stakeholders from civil society is yet another manifestation of a wide civic space existing in the country, for which we thank these stakeholders for their constructive participation and professionalism, all for the sake of our children", Catura said.