MANILA (UCAN): Philippine government’s new Special Committee on Human Rights Coordination, a “super body” set up to tackle human rights violations, has been dismissed by rights groups as a propaganda tool.
“The criticism against the ‘super body’—that it is window-dressing, superfluous, unnecessary, etc.—has a basis,” Carlos Conde, senior researcher with Human Rights Watch, explained.
Conde observed that the Philippine government does not need another human rights agency, especially one that will only serve propaganda purposes.
He noted that the special committee, set up by the president, Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., will include people and agencies that have no proven track record on human rights.
“Some of them were responsible in one way or another for the rights abuses in recent years,” Conde said on May 13, adding that it is meant to mislead the public and the international community.
The government said Marcos Jr. ordered the formation of the special committee to “enhance human rights in the Philippines.” The order establishing the body was signed by executive secretary, Lucas Bersamin on May 8. It will deal with initiatives and accomplishments of the United Nations Joint Programme on Human Rights, signed by the Philippines and the UN in July 2021 which expires on July 31.
The special committee is to look after the implementation of counter-terrorism measures and the war on drugs campaign, started by former president Rodrigo Duterte.
The “super body” will become operational just as the International Criminal Court [ICC] plans to issue arrest warrants against officials associated with the war on drugs of former president, Rodrigo Duterte, which killed 6,241 people between 1 July 2016, to 31 March 2022.
The Marcos government is not cooperating with the ICC investigation, arguing that the Philippines’ legal system can handle the case. Conde suggested that if Marcos truly values human rights, he should collaborate with the ICC and work towards the Philippines’ return to the organisation by re-ratifying the Rome Statute.
