Strengthened human rights: UN Joint Programme on Human Rights in the Philippines concludes

 “As a result of working together, emphasizing the multi-stakeholder character of the programme, the Government, the United Nations, the Commission on Human Rights and civil society made significant contributions” said Gustavo Gonzalez, United Nations Resident Coordinator in the Philippines. “The United Nations will remain closely engaged in the human rights agenda, which is always evolving.” 

The UN Joint Programme included Government actors, the Commission on Human Rights, civil society actors and the UN in all aspects of implementation. This contributed to ensuring that activities were relevant to the local context, and interventions reflected a wide range of views.  

Last December, the Government announced three human rights pledges at the 75th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights in Geneva, Switzerland. These will further reinforce the initiatives undertaken under the UN Joint Programme.  

These include the establishment of the Special Committee on Human Rights Coordination, which aims to institutionalize a robust process for the promotion and protection of human rights through dialogue and joint monitoring, actively engaging civil society and the Forensics Institute, which aims to carry out investigations and thereby elevate the standard of law enforcement and justice delivery. The new Fourth Philippine Human Rights Plan is a comprehensive blueprint for protecting human rights and addressing emerging human rights issues. Steps have already been taken to begin implementation of these pledges.   

The UN Joint Programme implemented training on the Minnesota Protocol on the Investigation of Potentially Unlawful Death, which is an internationally recognized standard for forensic investigations to ensure accountability for violations of the right to life. In addition to bringing global experts to the Philippines, the engagement on the Minnesota Protocol included knowledge exchange with Argentina as part of South-South Triangular cooperation between the two countries, facilitated by the UN Joint Programme. 

The UN Joint Programme also helped the Philippine Government introduce reforms to its detention system through joining the “Friends of Mandela Rules,” a global commitment to protect the rights of people in detention 

Trainings, capacity building activities and policy directives under the UN Joint Programme helped the government take steps towards a health- and human rights-based approach to drug policies, which included a commitment to review the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 cemented through the first ever Drugs Policy and Law Review Summit held in July 2024. 

These results were achieved through close collaboration, including trainings and technical meetings, during which the UN provided advisory support. Over 100 technical meetings took place, and 50 prosecutors, investigators and civil society actors, as well as over 1000 law enforcement officers received training.  

The United Nations has pledged to remain engaged in human rights promotion and protection in the Philippines: “Much has been achieved already and we must recognize that human rights is always a work in progress, which requires ongoing investment,” Mr  Gonzalez said. 

The US$ 4 million joint programme was funded by international donors (Australia, Germany, Ireland, Netherlands, Norway, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, the United States of America and the European Union), with the Philippines providing a contribution of US$ 200,000. 

Click on the link below to read the joint statement of the UN Resident Coordinator and the Secretary of the Department of Justice related to the closing of the Joint Programme.  
LINK to the Statement