Philippines playing down rights issues at UNHRC, Migrante says
MANILA, Philippines — Statements by the Philippine government before the UN Human Rights Council are "self praise" that play down rights issues in the country, a coalition of migrant Filipino workers said Wednesday.
Migrante International also said statements at the 41st session of the Universal Periodic Review showed that the Philippines has a labor export policy and that the country plans to continue the 50-year-old practice of sending laborers abroad, often in jobs where they are at risk and are prone to abuse.
"The countless cases and testimonies of Filipino migrant workers who have been denied the urgent assistance and protection they need [are] a more accurate measure of the government’s sincerity in advancing their rights," Migrante said in a statement on Wednesday.
In his opening statement at the session, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla boasted of the government’s creation of the Department of Migrant Workers "as a testimony of [the government’s] advocacy for the human rights and welfare” of overseas Filipino workers."
He also added that the government remains committed to the fight against human trafficking, even mentioning the country’s Tier 1 status in the 2022 Trafficking in Persons Report of the US State Department.
RELATED: Philippines keeps Tier 1 status, but efforts to address trafficking lacking — US report
Hazel Decena-Valdezu, senior assistant state prosecutor at the Department of Justice, also noted that government is develeoping a chatbox to help migrant workers with their queries and to provide assistance. She also said the government is developing a more stringent process for outbound international travelers to protect workers from illegal recruitment.
However, Migrante criticized the government for including in its report measures that revolve around the "training, upskilling, and retooling of OFWs" and of making the process for deploying OFWs more efficient.
"These statements clearly demonstrate the government’s interest in upholding and aggressively implementing the neoliberal agenda and policy of labor export, which contrasts with its supposed protection of migrant Filipinos’ human rights and the need to create decent jobs at home," Migrante said.
READ: No shortage of nurses but low pay, lack of tenure driving them abroad
‘Downplayed human rights situation’
In a separate statement on Tuesday, Migrante International said Remulla "tried to downplay the rampant human rights violations in the country."
"The international community’s interventions and recommendations during the UNHRC session constitute a rebuff of the Philippine government’s claims," the group said.
It further noted that states such as Australia, Ireland, and Costa Rica raised concern over the extrajudicial killings and recommended that the country’s government ensure accountability against perpetrators.
READ: Duterte 'drug war' still hot topic as Marcos admin faces UN rights review
Migrante also pointed out that 38 countries, among them Sweden, Ireland, and Canada, were concerned over press freedom, freedom of expression, and the civil society environment in the Philippines.
Meanwhile, Canada called on the country to enact legislation on human rights and Austria recommended amending the Anti-Terror Law.
The Philippines is recommended to take further measures to protect human rights defenders, indigenous and environmental rights defenders, journalists, lawyers, and judges.
READ: Philippines urged to ensure safety and democratic space for rights defenders
Remulla said that the government will "study very carefully" the recommendations given by other states during the periodic review. — with reports from Gaea Katreena Cabico and Kristine Joy Patag
- Latest
- Trending
