Philippines urges UN rights body: Respect state sovereignty

Families of those who died in the Government’s war on drugs priest bless and offer flower, candles to the victims at the Commission on Human Rights in Quezon City on October 29, 2021.

Boy Santos, file

MANILA, Philippines — Opposing the “politically motivated” use of human rights, the Philippines called on the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC) to observe the highest standards of balance, fairness, inclusivity and full respect for the sovereignty of member states.

In his address to the General Assembly during the presentation of the report of the HRC by president Nazhat Shameem Khan recently, Ambassador Enrique Manalo stressed the Philippines’ opposition to politically motivated use of human rights, and noted that “Country-specific resolutions that do not have the support of the State concerned stand little chance of making a meaningful difference on the ground, and are therefore a waste of resources.”

He expressed regret that program budget implications for country-specific resolutions go mostly to salaries and travels, and barely have provisions for actual projects that benefit concerned communities.

Full story: https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2021/11/08/2139758/philippines-urges-un-rights-body-respect-state-sovereignty