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discrimination b y citing a n outdated a n d repealed general c o m m e n t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