CHAPTER 4 PHILIPPINE ENGAGEMENT WITH INTERNATIONAL BODIES The Philippines and its government institutions have a robust engagement with the institutions of international human rights law. It is a current member of the UN Human Rights Council and is well respected as taking its human rights obligations very seriously across many policy areas.6 The government has ratified all core human rights instruments and participates regularly and constructively in proceedings of human rights treaty-monitoring bodies relevant to housing and associated human rights, including the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) and the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) mechanism of the UN Human Rights Council. Accordingly, a notable record of proceedings exists within these treaty-monitoring bodies which examine the Philippines’ performance in domestic human rights implementation and development. These proceedings form an important part of the international human rights framework and shed light on the application of many international standards to the Philippine government. This chapter will consider these proceedings with respect to housing and eviction-related human rights as a means to identify any relevant matters for consideration, in terms of domestic law and policy on evictions and resettlement. 4.1 Committee on Economic Social and Cultural Rights The CESCR is the body designated to supervise the implementation of and compliance with the ICESCR among states. During its scheduled consideration of State compliance it receives a report from the government of the State concerned, and additional submissions from NGOs and/or National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs). After consideration of all reports and submissions it makes non-binding concluding observations as to the state of implementation and enjoyment of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in the territory and institutions of the State concerned. The most recent considerations by the CESCR of the state of ESC Rights in the Philippines have been in 1995 and 2008. Housing and eviction-related issues, based on the Committee’s analysis of the enjoyment of the right to an adequate standard of living in the Philippines pursuant to article 11(1) of the ICESCR, have featured prominently in both submissions made to the Committee on behalf of the Government and Civil Society, and the recommendations made for law and policy change. 6 See: United Nations General Assembly, Note Verbale dated 11 February 2011 from the Permanent Mission of the Philippines to the United Nations Addressed to the President of the General Assembly, 2011. 21