GENEVA – A delegation of Filipino human rights defenders will amplify the victims’ fight for justice amid the recent petition filed by former President Rodrigo Duterte for interim release and the continuing violations of human rights and international humanitarian law under the Marcos Jr. administration.
Under the banner of the Philippine UPR Watch, representatives of progressive groups will be attending the UN Human Rights Council’s 59th session in Geneva starting this week to shed light on the pressing human rights issues in the Philippines.
“The UN Human Rights Council is a platform for civil society organizations to bring to the attention of the international community the continuing fight for justice of families of victims of extrajudicial killings and the “war on drugs,” Karapatan Secretary General Cristina Palabay, co-head of the Philippine UPR Watch, said. “The world must know that we are opposing Duterte’s interim release, and that we continue to remain vigilant and critical of the current Marcos administration’s crimes.”
Palabay warned that Duterte’s release would be very dangerous for the families of victims, and would further escalate the political tension in the Philippines.
Families of victims and their lawyers have been harassed and threatened online by Duterte’s trolls and supporters. Just recently, allies of the Dutertes in the Senate remanded to the Lower House the impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte.
“It is clear that the Dutertes have been unleashing their influence to frustrate all attempts of victims and their families to seek justice and accountability,” Mervin Toquero, Deputy General Secretary of the National Council of Churches of the Philippines and co-head of the Philippine UPR Watch, said.
The Philippine UPR Watch and #FightToExpress network representatives will witness the presentation of reports by Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary, or arbitrary executions, Mr. Morris Tidball-Binz, and by Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Opinion, Irene Khan.
On June 18, Mr. Tidball-Binz will present his report on the rights of families of victims of unlawful killings. On the same day, Ms. Khan will present her final report on the Philippines. She visited the Philippines in early 2024 on an official mission.
Philippine UPR Watch will also be updating permanent missions on the mid-term status of recommendations they made and were accepted by the Philippine government during the last Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of the country’s human rights record in 2022.
Other members of the delegation are:
UPR Watch:
- Josalee Deinla, National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers secretary general
- Sonny Africa, IBON Foundation executive director
- Jonila Castro, Kalikasan People’s Network for the Environment spokesperson
- Charm Maranan, Defend Southern Tagalog spokesperson
- Bishop Joseph Agpaoa, United Church of Christ in the Philippines, acting general secretary #FightToExpress network
- Ronalyn Olea, National Union of Journalists of the Philippines secretary general
- Macel Ingles, National Union of Journalists of the Philippines vice chairperson
