Signed MOU on Human Rights Support - Photo:Kevin Magtalas
The signing ceremony was attended by Norway’s Ambassador to the Philippines Christian Halaas Lyster (left) and United Nations Resident Coordinator Gustavo Gonzales (right) at the United Nations Office in Manila Kevin Magtalas

Norway continues human rights work with UN, PH

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 protecting 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.

| Manila

Ambassador Lyster mentioned that this programme 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 by the Philippines on human rights. We also take this opportunity to commend the policy pronouncement delivered through the third State of the Nation Adress, where President Marcos declared that his administration’s fight against dangerous drugs is bloodless and does not involve extermination,” he added.

SDG16 Group Photo
From L to R: Norwegian Embassy in Manila Political Adviser Nikki Al Ben Delfin, Counsellor Tor Haug, Deputy Head of Mission Geir Michalsen, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) Sr. Human Rights Adviser Signe Poulsen, Norway’s Ambassador to the Philippines Christ Photo: Kevin Magtalas

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 extra judicial 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.

 

The signing ceremony was also joined by the UN Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights (OHCHR) Senior Human Rights Adviser Signe Poulsen and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Country Manager Daniele Marchesi who have both acknowledged the importance of continuing the rights-based approaches and building on the gains that were achieved through previous human rights partnerships and cooperation.

 

Norway is a strong supporter of human rights and democracy in the Philippines and around the world and recognizes the importance of human rights and rule of law as fundamental to functioning democracies.