- Ensure direct applicability of the ESC Covenant in the country’s judicial system through programs such as training for judges, lawyers, and public officials, among others.
- Strengthen the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) by including in its mandate ESC rights and allocate adequate budget. Expeditious adoption of the CHR Charter.
- Intensify prosecution of corruption cases and train authorities implementing anti-corruption laws.
- Protection of human rights defenders from any form of violence and prosecution of cases of extra-judicial killings and enforced disappearance.
- Full implementation of the 1997 Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA) and ensure that economic activities such as mining do not adversely affect the rights recognized under said law.
- Increase national spending on social services such as housing, health, and education so as to progressively realize ESC rights.
- Review legislation to ensure equality between men and women, in particular adopt the Marital Infidelity Bill and review the interpretation of the Code of Muslim Personal Laws that allows polygamy and marriage of girls below 18 yers old.
- Intensify efforts to reduce unemployment and underemployment through targetted measures.
- Regularize the situation of persons working in the informal economy by ensuring adequate protection through existing labor and welfare legislation.
- Protect the rights of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) by:
a.) improving services such as counselling and medical assistance;
b.) forging and invoking bilateral agreements with countries of destination; and
c.) providing legal and consular assistance to distressed and abused nationals.
- Ensure that minimum wages provide workers with an adequate standard of living for themselves and their families. Extend the minimum wage legislation coverage to sectors where it does not currently apply. Enforce legal minimum wages through increased labor inspections and imposing fines and sanctions for non-complying employers.
- Sufficient resources for the labor department to conduct regular and independent inspections to ensure compliance with occupational health and safety legislation.
- Adopt legislation recognising the right of men and women to divorce, to obtain the legal severance of marital ties, and to remarry after divorce.
- Amend the Act Redefining Rape as a Crime against Person to protect women victims of marital rape by repealing the possibility that the criminal liability of the husband be extinguished by subsequent forgiveness of the wife.
- Combat trafficking in persons especially women and children by information campaigns, training for officials and judges, legislation, and support to victims.
- Fight child labor and protect children from all forms of sexual and economic exploitation through:
a.) strengthening legislation prohibiting child labor based on international standards;
b.) increased labor inspections;
c.) imposing fines and criminal sanctions to persons using child labor.
d.) Mandatory training for law enforcement officials, prosecutors, and judges;
e.) Facilitating recovery and access to educational opportunities for former childworkers;
f.) Undertaking a national survey on the nature and extent of child labor.
- Sufficient funds for anti-poverty strategy and full integration of ESC rights in this plan.
- Sufficient funds for providing security of tenure and affordable housing particularly to the most disadvantaged groups.
- In line with its previous Concluding Observations, paras 31 and 32, the Committee urges the State Party to:
a.) ensure effective implementation of the Urban Development and Housing Act (UDHA) and other laws prohibiting illegal forced evictions and demolitions;
b.) reinforce the mandate of the Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor (PCUP) as the sole clearing house for the conduct of eviction and demolition;
c.) undertake consultations with affected residents before implementing development and urban renewal projects;
d.) adequate compensation and / or relocation for victims of forced evictions; and
e.) guarantee that relocation sites are provided with basic services such as drinking water, electricity and other facilities at the time resettlement takes place.
- Protect the sexual and reproductive rights of women and girls through:
a.) reducing maternal and infant mortality rates;
b.) facilitating access to sexual and reproductive health services like family planning and information; and
c.) reviewing legislation criminalizing abortion in all circumstances.
- Ratify ILO Convention No. 169 (1989) concerning Indigenous and Tribal Peoples in Independent Countries.
- Ratify ILO Conventions No. 81 (1947) concerning Labour Inspection in Industry and Commerce, and No. 102 (1952) concerning Minimum Standards of Social Security.
Summarized by the Philippine Human Rights Information Center (PhilRights), April 1, 2009
