Norwegian recommendations in UPR on the Philippines 29 May
We welcome the delegation of the Philippines and the presentation of the national report.
Norway welcomes the efforts by the Philippine government to implement its National Action Plan on Women, peace and security. We remain committed to assisting the endeavors for a lasting peace in the country.
Young people can be agents for social change and development. We recommend that the Government endorse a closer cooperation with national and international human rights institutions, and work for the full and effective participation of young people and youth-led organizations at all levels (from local to international).
We also recommend the Philippines to engage in closer contact with UN bodies and, inter alia, accepts the request by the Special Rapporteur on human rights defenders to visit the country.
We welcome the Philippines accession to the Rome Statute (of the International Criminal Court). On the other hand, institutional deficiencies and weak law enforcement mechanisms hamper the implementation of basic human rights, including for children.
We recommend that immediate measures be taken to effectively implement the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006. We also recommend that victims of trafficking, often young people, are recognized as such and provided with protection and assistance.
According to the Commission on Human Rights in the Philippines, police and military forces continue to be among the top human rights violators. We recommend that the authorities embark on substantial reform of its judicial system in order to achieve progressive development for human rights.
Norway welcomes the recent resolution made by the UN Commission on Population and Development, supported by the Philippines: We recommend that the government establish a legal framework in order to help women and men develop knowledge to enable them to decide freely and responsibly on matters related to their sexuality, including their sexual and reproductive health.
Norway’s Advance Questions for the Philippines
- What is the Philippines doing to ensure the enrolment of children in school and to decrease the high drop-out rate?
- Which are the next measures the Philippine Government plan in order to effectively implement the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006?
- How will the Philippine government meet the pending requests by several UN Special Rapporteurs (i.a. SR on human rights defenders, trafficking, freedom of assembly and association, migrants and the Independent Expert on minorities) to visit the Philippines? And how will the Philippine Government follow up international reports of threats, ill-treatment, torture and harassment directed towards human rights defenders?
- How does the Philippine Government ensure that victims of trafficking are recognized as such and provided with protection and assistance?
- Which are the next steps to follow up the resolution by the UN Commission on Population and Development adopted in April 2012, and supported by the Philippines, “(…) enabling girls and boys to have control over and decide freely and responsibly on matters related to their sexuality, including their sexual and reproductive health, free of coercion, discrimination, and violence” (ref. pp15)?