On November 2022, the UN Human Rights Council will conduct the fourth cycle of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) on the Philippines. Various civil society organisations have submitted information on the human rights situation in the Philippines for the period being reviewed and some have been observing the session of the UPR Working Group.

The UPR involves a review of the human rights records of all UN Member States. The UPR is a State-driven process, under the auspices of the Human Rights Council, which provides the opportunity for each State to declare what actions they have taken to improve the human rights situations in their countries and to fulfil their human rights obligations. Civil society actors, NHRIs and regional mechanisms can submit written information for the report containing a summary of information submitted by other stakeholders, which is considered during the review.

For this review cycle, Philippine and international organisations submitted a total of 20 alternative reports, with 11 individual and 9 joint submissions of over 38 organisations related to the compliance of the Philippines to its international commitments on human rights. Civil society organisations engaging in this mechanism have come together under the Philippine UPR Watch.

On 7 September, two delegates of the UPR Watch from the National Council of Churches in the Philippines and the Council for Health and Development will visit Belgium to meet with international non-government organisations, migrant groups, parliamentarians and government officials after their meetings in Geneva.

IBON International Europe, Viva Salud, International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines (ICHRP)-Europe and Ugnayang Pilipino sa Belgium will host an evening of solidarity where the two delegates will share how Filipinos are exacting accountability for the human rights violations in the Philippines. Over apero, guests can also share their thoughts and ideas on how to strengthen their solidarity with the Filipino people. #