A/HRC/8/52 page 166 needs of the poor and other vulnerable groups. In view of the serious housing rights problems in the Philippines, the Centre on Housing Rights and Evictions was disappointed that little attention was paid thereto in the interactive dialogue and in the report of the Working Group. It drew attention to some recent developments of real concern, including the prevalence of forced evictions. It noted with concern the abolition of the Presidential Commission on the Urban Poor earlier this year, which removed a key check against abuse by the public authority in ensuring compliance by local governments in cases of evictions. It invited the Government to stop the erosion to law and policy in the area of housing rights and not to proceed with the House Bill 1087 of 2008. 481. The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (Forum-Asia) in association with Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates and Task Force detainees of the Philippines commended the States on the objectivity of the questions and recommendations delivered during the interactive dialogue of the Working Group on the Philippines. They expressed their appreciation for the statement of the Philippines on continued engagement with civil society throughout the follow-up process to the universal periodic review, maintaining the momentum in addressing killings and disappearances, ratifying the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture, and implementing the measures to address the needs of the poor and vulnerable sectors. They stated that they would expect the strengthening of domestic support for the signing and ratification of the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance and urged the Government to reconsider its position on the statute of the International Criminal Court. They also stated that they would expect convictions in the cases of extrajudicial executions, disappearances and torture and that the shortcomings and limitations of court personnel, protection of witnesses, victims’ families, and forensic investigation would be addressed substantively. There were some key issues and recommendations raised by States which the Philippine delegation had chosen not to reply to, particularly regarding the conflict in the Southern province of Mindanao and the extension of a standing invitation to special procedures. The universal periodic review could be a positive and effective mechanism for scrutiny and constructive dialogue as long as a State adhered to the principles of openness, transparency and accountability. 482. The Commission of Churches on International Affairs of the World Council of Churches and the International Association of Democratic Lawyers noted that the continuing concern of the international community about human rights violations was reassuring, as this dispelled the glossy picture projected by the Philippines in its national report. Much was left to be desired in the process of preparation of the report. In relation to the outcome, they noted that the delegation did not indicate having adopted any of the recommendations of the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, especially on the changes in the counter-insurgency programme currently being implemented by the State, and noted that the filing of cases and the conviction of four persons did not negate the fact that not a single military person was convicted of such violations. They noted that the reduction of the number of victims was the result of public outcry, but that impunity continued. 483. The Indian Council of South America and Indigenous Peoples and National Coalition thanked the Government for its final report before the Council and for its willingness to cooperate and constructively work with civil society in addressing human rights challenges, especially the extrajudicial killings. They also thanked the Philippines for accepting the acknowledgement and responsibility to address the plight that activists and journalists were