Republika Komisyon ng Pilipinas n g Karapatang Pantao n g Pilipinas (Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines) HUMAN RIGHTS ADVISORY CHR-A2013-007 ON T H E PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT'S RESERVATION ON THE RESOLUTION SUBMITTED TO T H E HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL REGARDING T H E RIGHT TO SUFFRAGE OF P E R S O N S W I T H PSYCHOSOCIAL AND I N T E L L E C T U A L DISABILITY Introduction: This advisory is issued pursuant t o the Commission o n H u m a n Rights' constitutional mandate which is t o monitor t h e Philippine Government's compliance w i t h international treaty obligations o n h u m a n rights.^ T h e r i g h t t o political participation lies a t t h e h e a r t o f democracy. I t m e a n s t a k i n g part i n decision m a k i n g o n public issues. It m e a n s true citizenship a n d equality. T h e history o f this h u m a n right reveals a development f r o m exclusion a n d denial t o gradual recognition o f universality and indivisibility.^ I t is remarkable that i t t o o k h i s t o r y u n t i l t h e 21^* c e n t u r y t o finally e x t e n d t h i s r i g h t t o disabled person. Persons w i t h disabilities ( P W D s ) include those w h o have longt e r m physical, mental, intellectual o rsensory impairments w h i c h i n i n t e r a c t i o n w i t h v a r i o u s barriers m a y h i n d e r t h e i r full a n d effective participation i n society o n a n equal basis w i t h others. However, t h e Department o f Foreign Affairs ( D F A ) Philippine Mission representative i n Geneva took exception t o a United Nations resolution t o protect persons w i t h disabilities ( P W D s ) from discrimination b y citing a n outdated a n d repealed general c o m m e n t interpreting another convention saying that t h e H u m a n Rights C o m m i t t e e admits as a n exception "established m e n t a l incapacity" t o Art. XIII, Sec. 18, par. 7, 1987 Philippine Constitution Theresia Degener of the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabiliti Karapatang Pantao: Likas Sa Atin, Tungkul Commomveahh Avenue, U.P. Complex, Dilimcm, 1101, Quez Tel. Nos. 927-0172 • 92S-2018 • 928-5655

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