Filipino elected panel head of UN Human Rights body

A FILIPINO authority on human rights has been unanimously elected chairperson of the Advisory Committee of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland.

The Department of Foreign Affairs said Saturday that Dr. Purificacion Valera Quisumbing would preside over the Advisory Committee composed of 18 independent experts from different regions of the world and which functions as the think tank of the UN Human Rights Council.

“It is a great honor to serve as chair of the Advisory Committee. I am humbled by the confidence my highly esteemed colleagues have placed in me,” Quisumbing said in a statement released by the DFA.

In her statement, Quisumbing recalled her stint as chair of the former UN Commission on Human Rights (the predecessor of the Human Rights Council) in 1990, while she was assistant secretary for human rights in the administration of the late President Corazon C. Aquino.

Philippine Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva Evan P. Garcia congratulated Quisumbing on her election.

“Dr. Quisumbing’s election as chair of the Advisory Committee follows the long tradition of Philippine leadership in international human rights engagement. We are very proud of her,” Garcia said.

“No doubt with her vast expertise and experience, she will lead the Advisory Committee to great success in its work,” he added.

During its fifth session, the Advisory Committee will be working on topics of importance to the Philippines, such as the elimination of discrimination against persons affected by leprosy; missing persons; the right to food; the right of peoples to peace; enhancement of international cooperation on human rights; and human rights education and training.

The Philippines is particularly active in the Human Rights Council in promoting human rights education and training, where it currently cochairs the negotiations on the draft UN Declaration on Human Rights Education and Training. –Balana/Inquirer.net