A/HRC/21/12 77. India appreciated the Philippines’ role in the drafting of the implementing protocols of the ASEAN Declaration on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Migrant Workers. It also welcomed the launch of the International Peace and Security Plan of the Armed Forces. 78. Indonesia welcomed the measures taken to address cases of past incidents of extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances and torture, and noted the success of the Philippine Inter-Agency Council against Trafficking in bringing perpetrators to justice and providing assistance to victims. Indonesia made recommendations. 79. In response to questions raised, the head of delegation appreciated the recognition given to the Philippines’ efforts and achievements in protecting and promoting human rights. 80. The Philippines is gratified by the recognition of the member States as well as those with observer status in the Human Rights Council for its stepped-up efforts to address such complex issues as extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances and torture. The head of delegation assured States that the Philippines considered them as priority cases was addressing all such cases through its criminal justice system, which is continually being enhanced. 81. Cases verified by the authorities as genuine cases are now at different stages of the process, from investigation to prosecution, and some are already being tried in the courts. 82. The head of delegation said that the Department of Justice files cases involving human rights violations and corruption even against those perceived to be beyond the reach of the law. 83. The Department of Justice has set up a special task force to gather, collate and monitor the progress of cases in collaboration with the independent Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines. 84. The Philippines is also looking to establish a National Monitoring Mechanism, a tripartite arrangement by and between the Government, the Commission on Human Rights, and civil society and NGOs to review all pending cases of extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances and torture and to recommend solutions to impediments to progress in the resolution of these cases. 85. The Philippine Supreme Court has provided for novel remedies, namely, the extraordinary writs of Amparo and Habeas Data, to protect and promote human rights. Several cases have already been filed in various courts. 86. Access to justice has been improved by, inter alia, the elimination of filing fees for criminal complaints with the Department of Justice and the Government has deployed concrete efforts to strengthen the witness protection programme. The current rate of convictions is more that 94 per cent when victims are covered by the witness protection programme. 87. The Philippines has adopted the implementing rules and regulations of the AntiTorture Law of 2009. 88. The enactment of the Act on Crimes against International Humanitarian Law, Genocide, and Other Crimes Against Humanity, or Republic Act No. 9851, and the AntiTorture Act support the principle of complementarity under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. 89. The Philippines deposited the instrument of accession to the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment on 17 April 2012. 11