Photo from the website of the European Parliament
MANILA, Philippines — Six members of the European Parliament subcommittee on human rights will visit the Philippines this week to engage in a series of dialogues and help improve the country’s human rights situation.
The Philippine government has approved the visit of the panel, as requested by the European Parliament, from Feb. 22 to 24, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).
In a statement on Monday, the DFA said the visit was part of the regular engagement between the country and the European Union (EU) with the “shared aim to further the constructive dialogue and cooperation on human rights, including in the framework of the EU GO-JUST Program which supports and complements national reforms in the justice sector.”
Cooperation
During their visit, the European Parliament delegation will be meeting with Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual, and several other lawmakers in the Senate and House of Representatives.
The DFA welcomed the visit as it “signifies the expanding dialogue and cooperation between the Philippines and the European Union.”
While the planned visit is being welcomed by lawmakers and human rights defenders, it also comes as the government disagrees to criticisms from international bodies about the country’s human rights situation.
War on drugs
In recent years, the EU has released several resolutions expressing “deep concern over the rapidly deteriorating human rights situation in the Philippines under (former President Rodrigo) Duterte” and condemning the “thousands of extrajudicial killings and other serious human rights violations related to the so-called war on drugs.”
The visit also comes as the Generalized Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+), a trade agreement between the Philippines and EU, is about to expire by year’s end and which the country will have to apply for anew.
More than 6,000 Philippine exports are given special incentives and zero tariffs by the GSP+. It is renewed on the condition that the Philippines adheres to the EU human rights standards.