Reposted from the UN Human Rights Council site (URL source below)
Human Rights Council
Forty-first session
24 June–12 July 2019
Agenda item 2
Annual report of the United Nations High Commissioner
for Human Rights and reports of the Office of the
High Commissioner and the Secretary-General
Austria, Belgium,* Canada,* Czechia, Denmark, Estonia,* Finland,* France,* Germany,* Greece,* Iceland, Ireland,* Latvia,* Liechtenstein,* Lithuania,* Luxembourg,* Malta,* Monaco,* Montenegro,* Netherlands,* New Zealand,* Poland,* Portugal,* Romania,* San Marino,* Slovenia,* Sweden,* United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: draft resolution
41/…  Promotion and protection of human rights in the Philippines
The Human Rights Council,
Guided by the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenants on Human Rights and other relevant international human rights instruments,
Reaffirming the primary responsibility of States to respect, protect and fulfil all human rights and fundamental freedoms and to fulfil their obligations under human rights treaties and agreements to which they are parties,
Recalling repeated expressions of concern about the situation of human rights in the Philippines by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and special procedure mandate holders,
Expressing concern at the allegations of human rights violations in the Philippines, particularly those involving killings, enforced disappearances, arbitrary arrest and detention, the intimidation and persecution of or violence against members of civil society, human rights defenders, indigenous peoples, journalists, lawyers and members of the political opposition, and restrictions on the freedoms of opinion and expression, peaceful assembly and association,
Bearing in mind that, since the campaign against illegal drugs was announced in the Philippines in mid-2016, there have been allegations of the killing of thousands of people allegedly involved in the drug trade and drug use,
Reaffirming the determination of Member States to tackle the world drug problem and to actively promote a society free of drug abuse in order to help to ensure that all people can live in health, dignity and peace, with security and prosperity, and reaffirming also the determination of Member States to address public health, safety and social problems resulting from drug abuse,
Emphasizing that the right to life must be respected and protected by all law enforcement agencies in their efforts to address drug-related crimes, and that allegations of drug-trafficking offences should be judged in a court of law that adheres to internationally recognized fair trial and due process norms and standards,
Deeply concerned about allegations of threats, intimidation and personal attacks directed against special procedure mandate holders, including the Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples and the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions,
Welcoming the statements made by the Government of the Philippines expressing its willingness to welcome independents experts from the United Nations to conduct an objective assessment of the situation of human rights in the country ,
Noting with appreciation the adoption in June 2019 by the House of Representatives of the Philippines of the Human Rights Defenders Protection Act,
- Urges the Government of the Philippines to take all necessary measures to prevent extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances, to carry out impartial investigations and to hold perpetrators accountable, in accordance with international norms and standards, including on due process and the rule of law;
- Calls upon the Government of the Philippines to cooperate with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the mechanisms of the Human Rights Council, including by facilitating country visits and preventing and refraining from all acts of intimidation or retaliation;
- Requests the High Commissioner to prepare a comprehensive written report on the situation of human rights in the Philippines, and to present it to the Human Rights Council at its forty-fourth session, to be followed by an enhanced interactive dialogue.
                               *   State not a member of the Human Rights Council.
Source: https://extranet.ohchr.org/sites/hrc/HRCSessions/RegularSessions/41Session/Resolutions/Forms/ResolutionDS/docsethomepage.aspx?ID=43&FolderCTID=0x0120D520005A4381ABFFD48642897E02288D058A2200C47B8FED5AAA174AA85D80F4FC2240D1&List=2e608fdd-ecef-47c9-a5c1-72fbb1ca1d6a&RootFolder=%2Fsites%2Fhrc%2FHRCSessions%2FRegularSessions%2F41Session%2FResolutions%2FA%5FHRC%5F41%5FL%2E20
