UN human rights experts call for
independent probe into Philippines violations
GENEVA (7 June 2019) – UN human
rights experts* today called on the United Nations to establish an independent
investigation into human rights violations in the Philippines, citing a sharp
deterioration in the situation of human rights across the country, including
sustained attacks on people and institutions defending human rights.
“Given the scale and seriousness of
the reported human rights violations we call on the Human Rights Council to
establish an independent investigation into the human rights violations in the
Philippines,” said the independent experts, referring to the body made up of 47
UN Member States elected by the UN General Assembly.
“We have recorded a staggering
number of unlawful deaths and police killings in the context of the so-called
war on drugs, as well as killings of human rights defenders. Very few
independent and effective investigations have taken place, independent media and
journalists are threatened, the law has been weaponised to undermine press
freedom, and the independence of the judiciary is undermined,” the experts
said.
“We are extremely concerned over
the high number of killings which are being carried out across the country in
an apparent climate of official, institutional impunity.
“In the past three years, we have
repeatedly brought to the attention of the Government cases alleging a range of
gross human rights violations, such as extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary
executions, including of children, persons with disabilities, indigenous
peoples, trade union and land right activists. Those cases also included
allegations of arbitrary detention, torture or inhuman or degrading treatment,
gender-based violence against women human rights defenders, attacks against the
independence of judges and lawyers, freedoms of expression and of assembly, as
well as people’s right to food and health. Sadly these cases are just the tip
of the iceberg with many more cases being reported regularly.
“It is time for the Human Rights
Council to take action against these sustained attacks on human rights
defenders and independent watchdog institutions,” the experts said.
They stressed that, in many
incidents the alleged perpetrators of killings are members of the armed forces,
paramilitary groups or individuals linked to them.
“Instead of sending a strong
message that these killings and harassment are unacceptable, there is a rising
rhetoric against independent voices in the country and ongoing intimidation and
attacks against voices who are critical of the Government, including
independent media, human rights defenders, lawyers and journalists,” said the
experts.
The President has himself publicly
intimidated human rights defenders, United Nations Special Rapporteurs and even
the Supreme Court judges. He has publicly degraded women through sexist
statements and has incited violence against alleged drugs pushers and others.
He has also threatened to bomb the schools of the Lumad indigenous peoples on
the island of Mindanao.
“The Government has shown no
indication that they will step up to fulfil their obligation to conduct prompt
and full investigations into these cases, and to hold perpetrators accountable
in order to do justice for victims and to prevent reoccurrence of violations.
There are now thousands of grieving families in the Philippines. We call on the
international community to do everything possible to ensure there will be no
more.”
The experts also expressed serious
concerns about the decision of the Philippines to withdraw from the
International Criminal Court. “This is the last of many actions demonstrating
that the Government is seeking to evade scrutiny and reject accountability,”
they said, noting repeated personalised attacks on independent international actors
and undermining their credibility.
Independent human rights experts
appointed by the Human Rights Council have raised their concerns with the
Government of the Philippines on 33 occasions over the last three years**.
ENDS
** The UN experts have issued news
releases on selected ‘communications’ as follows:
· On 6 December 2018, the Special
Rapporteur on freedom of expression called on the Philippine authorities to
drop charges against online news website Rappler and its Chief Executive, Maria
Ressa;
· On 20 August 2018, the Special
Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders; the Special Rapporteur
on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of
physical and mental health ;and Chairperson of the Coordination Committee of
the Special Procedures urged the Philippines authorities to further action to
remove names on Government’s “terror list”;
· On 1 June 2018, the Special Rapporteur
on the independence of judges and lawyers expressed grave concerns at public
threats issued against the Philippines’ Chief Justice by the country’s
President and his subsequent dismissal;
· On 8 March 2018, the Special Rapporteur
on the situation of human rights defenders; the Special Rapporteur on the
rights of persons with disabilities; and the Chairperson of the Coordination
Committee of the Special Procedures expressed grave concerns about terrorism
accusations levelled against the UN Special Rapporteur on the rights of
indigenous peoples, Victoria Tauli-Corpuz, a Philippine national;
· On 25 January 2018, the Special
Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion
and expression; the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary
executions; and the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights
defenders. expressed serious alarm at effort to shut down independent media
outlet in the Philippines;
· On 27 December 2017, the Special
Rapporteur on the situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms of
indigenous peoples warned over “massive” impact of military operations on
Mindanao indigenous peoples;
· On 23 November 2017, the Special
Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions; the Special
Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders; and the Special
Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers urged the Philippines to
stop attacks and killings in anti-drugs campaign;
· On 31 July 2017, the Special Rapporteur
on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions; the Special Rapporteur on
the situation of human rights defenders; and the Special Rapporteur on the sale
and sexual exploitation of children called on the Government of the Philippines
to reverse spiralling rights violations, related to the growing reports of
human rights violations including murder, threats against indigenous peoples
and the summary execution of children;
· On 16 March 2017, the Special
Rapporteur on summary or arbitrary executions; and the Special Rapporteur on
torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment urged
Filipino legislators to reject death penalty bill;
· On 16 December 2016, the Special
Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions called on the
Government of the Philippines to lift a series of preconditions imposed on her
planned visit to the country;
· On 18 August 2016, the Special
Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions; and the Special
Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable
standard of physical and mental health urged the Philippines to stop unlawful
killings of people suspected of drug-related offences;
· On 6 June 2016, the Special Rapporteur
on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions; and the Special Rapporteur
on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and
expression urged Philippines president-elect to stop instigating deadly
violence.
*The experts: Ms Agnes Callamard,
Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions; Ms
Meskerem Geset Techane, Chair of the Working Group on the issue of
discrimination against women in law and in practice; Ms Hilal Elver, Special
Rapporteur on the right to food; Mr. Michel Forst, Special Rapporteur on the
situation of human rights defenders; Mr. David Kaye, Special Rapporteur on the
promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression; Mr.
Clément Nyaletsossi Voulé, Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of
peaceful assembly and of association;; Mr. José Antonio Guevara Bermúdez,
Chair-Rapporteur, Working Group on Arbitrary Detention; Mr. Dainius Pῡras,
Special Rapporteur on the right to health; Ms Victoria Lucia Tauli-Corpuz,
Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous people; Ms Dubravka Šimonović,
Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences; Mr.
Diego García-Sayán, Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and
Lawyers.
The Special Rapporteurs and Working
Groups are part of what is known as the Special Procedures of the Human Rights
Council. Special Procedures, the largest body of independent experts in the UN
Human Rights system, is the general name of the Council’s independent
fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms that address either specific country
situations or thematic issues in all parts of the world. Special Procedures’
experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not UN staff and do not receive a
salary for their work. They are independent from any government or organization
and serve in their individual capacity.
UN Human Rights, Country Page:
Philippines
For more information and media
requests, please contact:
In Geneva: Alessandro Marra (+41 22
928 93 21 / amarra@ohchr.org) or write to eje@ohchr.org
You can access this press release
online
For media inquiries related to
other UN independent experts: Jeremy Laurence – Media Unit (+41 22 917 9383 /
jlaurence@ohchr.org)
Follow news related to the UN’s
independent human rights experts on
Twitter @UN_SPExperts
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