PRESS RELEASE

NYPM 23-2011

20 MAY 2011

PHL ELECTED ANEW TO HRC SEAT

20 May 2011 United Nations, New York The Philippines was elected anew to a fresh three-year term at the Human Rights Council (HRC), obtaining the second highest number of votes in elections held today here at the 65^th session of the General Assembly.

 The elections held at the General Assembly hall of the UN Headquarters in NY was presided over by Mr. Joseph Deiss, President of the 65th Session of the GA.  The HRC meets in Geneva but elections to the body are held in New York every May.

 The Philippines’ performance, Permanent Representative and Ambassador Cabactulan said, was “an indication of the confidence and trust of the international community in the Philippines and in the country’s commitment to advance the upholding, preservation and protection of human rights in the nation and around the world.”

 “We are a vibrant democracy working very hard to further consolidate and strengthen the gains we have achieved in human rights, together with the rights which we fought for that led to the restoration of democracy at EDSA in 1986.  Human rights is a cornerstone of good governance, as enunciated by President Benigno S. Aquino himself, and the world – through our election to the Human Rights Council with a fresh mandate – recognizes this national commitment of ours,” Ambassador Cabactulan explained.

 This is the third time that the Philippines has been elected to the HRC.  The first was during HRC’s first session in 2006 and the second was for the term 2007-2010.   

 The UN HRC is made up of 47 Member States of the UN and is responsible for strengthening the promotion and protection of human rights around the globe.  The Council was created by the General Assembly on 15 March 2006 with the main purpose of addressing situations of and making recommendations on human rights violations.

 The other 14 countries elected to the HRC for the term 2011-2014 were Indonesia, India, Kuwait, Burkina Faso, Botswana, Congo, Benin, Chile, Costa Rica, Peru, Czech Republic, Romania, Austria and Italy. END

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