MANILA – Norway reaffirms its support towards human rights in the Philippines through a multilateral cooperation agreement with the United Nations (UN). The project seeks to strengthen legal and justice institutions and protect civic space in the country.
The agreement was signed between the Norwegian Embassy in Manila and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and was commemorated through a signing ceremony at the UN Office in Manila. The ceremony includes statements from the Norwegian Ambassador to the Philippines Christian Halaas Lyster, United Nations Resident Coordinator (UNRC) Gustavo Gonzalez, and Commission on Human Rights (CHR) Chairperson Richard Palpal-latoc.
Ambassador Lyster mentioned that this program is a good example of cooperation that will strengthen national human rights protection mechanisms, and protect civic space.
“Norway recognizes the progress and the accomplishments of the Philippines on human rights. We also take this opportunity to commend the policy pronouncement delivered through the third State of the Nation Address, where President Marcos declared that his administration’s fight against dangerous drugs is bloodless and does not involve extermination,” he added.
UNRC Gonzalez thanked Norway for their continued support. “Good governance is a pillar of the Philippine Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework. Our partnership with national institutions that promote and protect human rights helps to ensure that our approaches are aligned with national priorities. It is an integral part of the broader development agenda” he stated.
“The Philippines is set in a complex and evolving human rights landscape. The last decade alone has been marked by significant challenges, including extrajudicial killings, erosion of press freedom, shrinking civic spaces, systemic issues impacting Indigenous peoples, the COVID-19 pandemic’s exacerbation of socio-economic inequalities, and the devastating effect of natural disasters linked to climate change,” said the CHR chairperson.
“CHR expresses its deepest gratitude to the Norwegian Government and to the Office of the High Commission on Human Rights for their support, commitment, and invaluable partnership in supporting a shared vision of a more just, inclusive, and rights-respecting Philippine society. We look forward to an enduring and fruitful collaboration, united by our common goal of making human rights a reality for everyone,” he concluded.
