Phl backs Callamard term extension

The Philippines was among the countries that supported the move to extend the term of Agnes Callamard for another three years as the United Nations special rapporteur on extrajudicial executions.

The move to extend Callamard’s term was contained in a four-page resolution introduced by the Permanent Mission of Sweden to the UN.

The Human Rights Council adopted the resolution during a meeting in Geneva, Switzerland on June 22.

In addition to Callamard’s term extension, it also acknowledged the importance of relevant procedures and mechanisms in addressing

extrajudicial killings.

It also issued a strong condemnation of all cases of extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions around the world.

The resolution also called on governments to take action against extrajudicial killings and conduct impartial investigations on existing cases.

Aside from Sweden and the Philippines, also supporting the resolution were Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland and France.

Georgia, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway and Paraguay also supported the resolution together with Peru, Poland, Portugal, Moldova, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Macedonia, Ukraine and Uruguay.

The Philippine government earlier slammed Callamard for criticizing the Duterte administration’s bloody campaign against illegal drugs.

The government challenged her to visit the country and investigate, but imposed pre-conditions such as engaging President Duterte in a public debate.

Callamard said she could not agree to the conditions as these were against the terms of reference governing special rapporteurs.

She received criticism when she visited the country in an unofficial capacity to attend a forum on drug policy in May.

The Philippines then urged the UN to designate a neutral individual to look into the drug war, saying Callamard had shown bias against the campaign.

Earlier, 32 countries expressed deep concern over the high number of casualties in the administration’s drug war and urged the Philippines to allow Callamard to conduct a visit without preconditions.

Callamard was appointed special rapporteur last year.