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| 14 OCTOBER 2007 | ||
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| 14 OCTOBER 2007 | ||
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Statement of the President |
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PGMA to address opening of three-day int'l workshop on Human Rights tomorrow |
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| Statement of the President |
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The Philippines is saddened to learn of the
death of General Soe Win, the Prime Minister of the Union of Myanmar. In this time of bereavement, the Government and people of the Philippines would like to convey deepest sympathies and condolences to the family of Prime Minister Soe Win. Prime Minister Soe Win's death comes during a most challenging time when Myanmar has to remain committed to the full implementation of its Roadmap to Democracy. The Philippines hopes that despite Prime Minister Soe Win's death, the Government of Myanmar seizes this opportunity to pursue its goals of national unity, reconciliation, and democratization. |
| PGMA to address opening of three-day int'l workshop on Human Rights tomorrow |
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President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will address
the opening of the three-day international workshop for Asia on the
“Establishment of National Human Rights Institutions for the Promotion and
Protection of Human Rights” tomorrow at the Traders Hotel along Roxas Blvd.,
Pasay City. Co-hosted by the Philippines, the workshop seeks to encourage the setting up of National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) in countries where there are no NHRIs yet. High-level foreign officials and parliamentarians from various countries, including Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, China, Japan, Korea, Laos, Myanmar, Singapore, Pakistan, Vietnam, and Papua New Guinea are expected to attend the workshop. After her speech at Ballroom B of Traders Hotel, the President will hold a private meeting with the foreign delegations. Like 17 other Asian countries, the Philippines already has its own NHRI – two, in fact -- the Human Rights Commission of the Philippines (HRCP), and the Philippine Human Rights Committee (PHRC). During the workshop, Asian countries still without NHRIs will have a glimpse of the “lessons learned from NHRIs at the international and national levels.” Aside from the Philippines, the 17 other Asian countries that have already NHRIs are Afghanistan, Australia, Fiji, Indonesia, Iran, Jordan, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Nepal, New Zealand, Palestine, Qatar, Korea, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Timor Leste. In her speech at the 62nd Session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) last Sept. 28, the President called for the protection of human rights at home and abroad. Under her presidency, the Philippines has gained a seat in the UN Human Rights Council. |