Non-politicized visits of UN human rights officials beneficial to PHL

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.

He added: "By this way, this country visit has become a chance to showcase the Philippine government's efforts and good practices in child rights policy that other countries can emulate, and at the same time see where improvements can be made."

In one area visit, Singhateh said: "While no system is perfect, it is my role as a special rapporteur to see to it that States work for the protection of all children across the globe."

"We aim to ensure that no child is a victim of sexual abuse and exploitation, so I want to see how your laws and policies are applied in practice on the ground," she added.

At her exit conference with government agencies, Singhateh shared her initial findings and observations, commending the government for the enactment of laws that positively impact children protection, the establishment of family and child-friendly courts, partnership and cooperation between government and private institutions, and civil society, and training and capacity-building of front-line responders, among others.

She, however, raised concerns about the trafficking of children, child marriages, illegal adoption, sexual exploitation in the context of travel and tourism, teenage pregnancies, and the convictions of perpetrators.

Among her recommendations is the setting up of specialized homes for child victims of sale and sexual exploitation, transition centers, and specialized children's courts.

Balanced and fair

Catura commended the UNSR for her balanced and fair reporting and committed to convening inter-agency meetings to study her recommendations.

He said the recommendations will be processed along the National Mechanism for Reporting & Follow-Up which the PHRC Secretariat manages in conjunction with the UN Joint Program for Human Rights.

"While UNSR visits are an opportunity to benefit from the expertise, wisdom, and experience of no less than UN experts, the Philippines' engagements are geared toward rendering the work of these experts responsive to the actual human rights realities of States they visit," he said. "In this regard, we do our share in strengthening the UNSR mechanism," he continued.

Coordinating the UNSR's country visit with the PHRC Secretariat and the CWC was the Department of Foreign Affairs-Office of the UN and Other International Organizations in close collaboration with the UN Office of the Resident Coordinator.

Singhateh, from The Gambia, was appointed UNSR by the UN Human Rights Council in March 2020. A lawyer with over 20 years of experience, Singhateh's expertise centers on child rights programming, arbitration and mediation, and legislative drafting.

Special Rapporteurs are part of the Special Procedures Mandate Holders System, one of the UN's human rights mechanisms and the largest body of independent experts in the UN system that works on specific human rights issues.

The UNSR on freedom of expression is scheduled to visit the country in the first quarter of 2023.