CHR says another UN special rapporteur to visit PH by 2023

INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Another United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur will be visiting the country soon after the UN Special Rapporteur on the sale and sexual exploitation of children’s expected trip to the country in November, the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) said on Wednesday.

In a statement, CHR said that Special Rapporteur on freedom of expression and opinion Irene Khan would be in the Philippines by 2023, after the government extended an invitation to her.

Previously, it was also announced by CHR that Mama Fatima Singhateh will be arriving in the country from November 28 to December 8.

“The Commission reiterates its acknowledgement of the national government for extending an invitation to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the sale and sexual exploitation of children, including child prostitution, child pornography, and other child sexual abuse material, Ms. Mama Fatima Singhateh, and the Special Rapporteur on freedom of expression and opinion, Ms. Irene Khan,” CHR said.

“Following this invitation, Ms. Singhateh will conduct a country visit to the Philippines from 28 November to 8 December 2022 ‘to assess the situation and the progress made in combating and preventing the sale and sexual exploitation of children in the light of international human rights norms and standards,’” it added.

READ: UN special rapporteur on sale and sexual exploitation of children to visit PH 

According to CHR, visitations by special rapporteurs are important as the mechanisms that allow them to assess the country’s stature are key to self-assessment, policy creation, and implementation.

“Special Rapporteurs are part of the special procedures mechanism of the United Nations Human Rights Council. They are independent experts with mandates to report and advise on human rights. Special Rapporteurs with thematic mandates, such as Ms. Singhateh and Ms. Khan, undertake country visits to assess the general situation of human rights at the national level,” the Commission stated.

“During these visits, they meet with national and local authorities, including the national government and members of the judiciary, as well as other stakeholders, including civil society organizations and victims of human rights violations. These visits result in the publication of findings, conclusions, and recommendations which aim to improve the realization of human rights on the ground,” it added.

CHR said they would actively participate and contribute inputs to the study of the special rapporteurs, as part of their mandate as the country’s human rights institution.

“The Commission emphasizes the important contribution of Special Rapporteurs in the international human rights protection mechanism. As independent experts, they are expected and have been proven to act with probity and constant regard to human rights principles and standards,” CHR said.

“As such, their findings, conclusions, and recommendations offer competent, objective, constructive, and specific advice to government actors on how to implement voluntarily undertaken human rights obligations, as well as emerging norms for the universal respect of all human rights,” it added. With reports from Trisha Manalaysay, trainee

JPV