By Michaela Del Callar
MANILA, Oct. 29 (PNA) — The Philippines was elected by the United Nations General Assembly for a fourth term as a member of the world body’s influential Human Rights Council.
In elections held on October 28, the UN body selected 18 states that will serve in the Geneva-based council from 2016 to 2018.
“The Philippines’ victory in the UN Human Rights Council, for a fourth term, is a clear and strong manifestation of the international community’s recognition of the Philippines’ steady progress in fulfilling international human rights obligations,” Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario said in a statement on Thursday.
Among the 15 nations elected, only the Philippines and the Republic of Korea were chosen to serve a fourth term, after serving in the council in previous years.
Belgium, Burundi, Côte d’Ivoire, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Georgia, Germany, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Panama, Slovenia, Switzerland, Togo, United Arab Emirates, and Venezuela were also elected as members of the Council.
The 47-member council is an inter-governmental body within the UN responsible for strengthening the promotion and protection of human rights around the globe. It addresses situations of human rights violations and makes recommendations on them.
It discusses thematic human rights issues and situations that require its attention throughout the year. (PNA)