PH, UN signing of human rights joint program seen

MANILA – After months of negotiations, the Philippines and the United Nations Resident Coordinator (UNRC) are expected to sign the UN Joint Program (UNJP) on Human Rights, Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar said on Saturday.

“The Philippine government and the United Nations, through its Resident Coordinator, are moving forward in forging the UN Joint Program on Human Rights, which is the first-ever between the UN and a Member State,” Andanar said in a press statement.

He made the remarks after the Philippines completed the first of UNJP activities through the holding of a human rights summit led by the Department of Justice (DOJ) in December 2020.

The summit, Andanar said, served as a platform for “earnest and intelligent” discourse and for advancing partnerships among various stakeholders on civil and political, economic, social, and cultural rights.

“The government is pleased with the steady progress in the work of the UNJP,” he said.

There have been consultations on a joint program between the UNRC and UN agencies and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and DOJ.

The DFA and DOJ, along with other Philippine agencies, have proposed the elements of a multi-year joint program based on priorities of the government to strengthen various technical aspects of the country’s rule of law, accountability, and human rights mechanisms.

The joint program under consideration would mainstream human rights in the cooperation between the Philippines and the UN, as well as strengthen synergies in cooperative efforts to advance human rights side by side with the country’s determined pursuit of sustainable development goals.

‘Best conditions’

Andanar said the UNJP marks the newest milestone in the long history of the Philippines’ successful and productive engagement with the UN, regional and bilateral partners on the issue of human rights.

“The UNJP is not an end to itself, but a pathway among many, in the dynamic and spirited national process to address gaps and further elevate institutional processes and mechanisms for human rights, rule of law, and accountability up to par with the highest standards,” he added.

Andanar said the government’s resolve is to pursue the “best conditions” to ensure the success of the joint program on human rights.

“The government endeavors to create the best conditions for the UNJP to flourish, so that it can meaningfully support the good governance agenda and the goals to uplift the welfare, promote the dignity, and protect the rights of the Filipino people,” he said.

Citing President Rodrigo Duterte’s remarks before the UN General Assembly on Sept. 22, 2020, Andanar said the Philippines sought an open dialogue and constructive engagement in human rights.

‘Sincere, constructive’ partnership

Andanar said active and inclusive collaboration between and among government agencies, the UNRC, the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), and relevant civil society organizations has made the “shape and substance of UNJP become clearer over the last months.”

“The government is strongly committed to pursue an open, sincere, and constructive partnership with the UN on the UNJP, which is welcomed as a new model for positive multilateralism that bears witness to the new energy of the reformed UN development system,” he said.

Andanar ensured that the government, together with the UNRC, would provide regular updates on the UNJP.

He gave the assurance following the joint endorsement of key areas, projects, outputs, and outcomes of the joint program made on Nov. 27, 2020 by Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr., Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra, UNRC Gustavo Gonzalez, CHR Chairperson Jose Luis Martin Gascon, and other representatives of public agencies.