Universal Periodic Review 27: Philippines
This UK statement on the Philippines was delivered at the adoption of the reports during the 27th Session of the Universal Periodic Review on 22 September 2017.
The Universal Periodic Review takes place at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.
The UK thanks the Philippines for its continued engagement in the UPR process. We regret that none of our recommendations were supported by the Philippines.
We remain concerned about the high death toll associated with the campaign against illegal drugs and statements questioning the universality of human rights. The commitment by the Government of the Philippines to conform to international human rights standards in this campaign is positive. But we continue to urge the Government of the Philippines to ensure thorough and independent investigations into all violent deaths and to commit to bring to justice those involved, including security forces.
We are also concerned by continuing threats made against human rights defenders. We call on the Government of the Philippines to promote a safe, enabling environment for the work of human rights defenders, including through the adoption of a charter for the protection and recognition of human rights defenders.
We welcome the commitment by the Philippines to tackle human trafficking and exploitation. We call on the Government to promote a comprehensive response to modern slavery, including building criminal justice capabilities to increase investigation, prosecution and conviction of perpetrators. In this regard, we continue to urge the Government to ratify the 2014 ILO Protocol to the Forced Labour Convention.