News
On World Criminal Justice Day, we demand accountability for generations of crimes against humanity
| Statement
July 17 is International Criminal Justice Day. It marks 20 years since the ratification of the Rome Statute for the International Criminal Court, by 60 states. Today there are over 120 States Parties to the ICC. The Philippines ratified the Rome Statute in 2011, and nominated the first Filipino to serve a full term as one of the ICC judges in 2015. In the midst of the brutal war on drugs, the Duterte government withdrew from the ICC in the mistaken assumption that it could avoid investigation for the thousands of extrajudicial killings.
The Marcos Jr. government must demonstrate credible human rights policy and framework during term -iDEFEND
| Statement
In power for the next six years, the Marcos Jr. regime faces multiple socio-economic, political and human rights crises, inherited from the violent, inept leadership of Rodrigo Duterte. The P12.03 trillion national debt alone poses a considerable hurdle to addressing the urgent need for economic recovery and effective pandemic response, amidst skyrocketing prices of oil and basic goods.
"WE WILL HOLD THE LINE AND COURAGE ON WITH RAPPLER"- iDEFEND
| Statement
Multi-awarded independent media organization RAPPLER has been a prime target of the Duterte regime’s vilification and judicial harassment while it struggles to combat massive attacks and disinformation online. The government’s reprisal against independent press is at its worst with the shutdown of ABS CBN network, blocking of the websites of Bulatlat and Pinoy Weekly, and persecution of journalists, especially those reporting on widespread and systematic human rights violations, social injustice, and amplifying the people’s demands for accountability.
Civil Society and Human Rights Community Manifesto on ensuring a strong and effective, people-serving Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines
| Statement
We, civil society organizations representing a broad range of basic sectors, advocacies, and grassroots work in the Philippines, anticipating the forthcoming change of leadership in the Commission on Human rights, uphold preserving the integrity, independence, and effective functioning of the Philippine National Human Rights Institution. We ask that the transition period and process from the 5th to the 6th Commission happening between the period of March 5 and June 29, 2022, to take place in a lawful, transparent, inclusive, consultative, and participative manner.