Philippines’ 2nd Implementation Report on the Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families 20th Session of the UN Committee on Migrant Workers Geneva, 31 March to 11 April 2014 The Philippines’ Second Report on the Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families In 2011, the Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines (CHR), in partnership with the Center for Migrant Advocacy (CMA), an NGO that promotes the rights of overseas Filipinos, convened a GO – NGO80 Forum / Workshop on the Committee’s Concluding Observations. In the same year, the Commission contributed to the South East Asia National Human Rights Institutions Forum (SEANF) research on Migration through the NGO, Migrante International in coordination with IBON Foundation. This research provided an overview of the situation of Filipino Migrant Workers with particular focus on the human rights of migrants, their burdens and vulnerabilities. With the issuance of the List of Issues in 21 May 2012 the Commission began the process of disseminating the contents of the LOIPR to migration stakeholders in preparation for its independent submission to the Committee for the Second State Party report. On 5 December 2012, a public forum entitled, “The Human Rights of Migrants: A Public Forum on the List of Issues Prior to Reporting (LOIPR)” was held by the Commission with the CMA. The forum was attended by different migration stakeholders and was aimed at creating collaborative reflection on the LOIPR by bringing together diverse stakeholders including government agencies. Initial inputs on the list of issues were gathered during the public forum, with commitment from State representatives to an inclusive process in the preparation of the State Report. Following the public forum, a series of consultations were held on the LOIPR. Still in partnership with CMA, the Commission sought to gather the inputs/replies of nongovernment organizations and other stakeholders on the list of issues, with the end that the same shall parallel and augment the State’s report. On 11 June 2013, the Manila consultation was held and was attended by 39 participants from 21 organizations. This was immediately followed by the Mindanao consultation in Davao on the 28th of June 2013 attended by 31 participants from 19 organizations. Results from the consultations were subsequently integrated into the consolidated replies of NGOs to the list of issues and submitted to the Committee by CMA. The Commission, as CMA’s partner in the design, implementation and conduct of the public forum and the subsequent consultations on the LOIPR, adopts the NGO inputs and replies to the LOIPR. In addition to the consolidated NGO report, the Commission submits the following additional replies and comments to select LOIPR. Specific information on the implementation of Articles 1 to 71 of the Convention The policy of the State as set forth under RA 8042 and subsequently in RA 10022 that “the State does not promote overseas employment as a means to sustain economic growth and achieve national development” and shall “continuously create local employment opportunities and promote the equitable distribution of wealth and the benefits of development81” remains yet to be fulfilled. 80 Government Organizations – Non – Government Organizations Forum is under the Treaty Monitoring program of the Commission and has received funding assistance from the United Nations Development Programme – Democratic Governance Portfolio’s Strengthening the Human Rights Infrastructure Project. 81 102 RA 8042, sec. 2(c)