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The UN human rights council has been accused of a “collective failure” for its decision not to request an investigation into the tens of thousands of killings allegedly occurred during the “war on drugs” of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte.
Human rights groups and UN experts had repeatedly called for an investigation into the crackdown on drugs, launched by the president after he won the 2016 elections on a promise to rid the country of drugs.
The exact death toll from anti-drug operations is unknown: Government figures show that at least 8,663 people have died, other estimates suggest triple that number. At least 122 children are among those who have died.
It follows a landmark report by UN Human Rights Chief Michelle Bachelet, who warned of “near impunity” for widespread extrajudicial executions, despite credible evidence, and of “defamation of dissent” in the Philippines. .
It also verified the killings of 208 human rights defenders, journalists and trade unionists between January 2015 and December 2010. The obstacles to justice in the country were “almost insurmountable,” he said.
Since mid-2016, there has only been one conviction for the murder of a drug suspect in a police operation.
In a statement, Amnesty International said that the human rights council had “failed to promote justice for grieving families” and had let down “the brave human rights defenders, journalists and others who have committed to the UN of good faith and continue their work at personal risk ”.
The resolution passed on Wednesday, led jointly by Iceland and the Philippines, called for the UN human rights office to support the Philippines through “technical assistance.” This could include assistance with national investigations and data collection on alleged police violations.
The resolution recognized the cooperation between the Duterte government and the UN team in the country, and the government’s efforts “to further expand the positive engagement with the United Nations system.”
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque reiterated Wednesday that Duterte does not support the use of unnecessary force in suppressing crime.
However, critics pointed to numerous comments in which Duterte has endorsed the violence. Just a few months ago, at the start of the lockdown, Duterte told police to crack down on curfew violators and anyone causing trouble, saying, “Shoot them down.”
The Philippine Human Rights Commission said earlier this week that despite suggestions that the Philippines is engaging with the UN, abuses continue.
“Murders have not decreased, harassment continues, the ‘legal war’ remains and lack of cooperation persists as the predominant practice, specifically in the investigation of murders resulting from the administration’s ‘war on drugs’,” the commission said .
In recent months, between April and July, 155 people died during drug raids, according to Human Rights Watch analysis of government data, an increase compared to the four months before the Covid-19 pandemic.
Government attacks on the media and activists have also skyrocketed. The country’s largest broadcaster, ABS-CBN, who had been repeatedly threatened by Duterte, was forced off the air in May, while prominent journalist Maria Ressa faces up to six years in prison after she was found guilty on charges of “ cyberlibel ”. The case against her has been widely condemned on political grounds.
A new counterterrorism law, passed by lawmakers in July, has also raised concerns among rights groups. The law allows warrantless arrests, weeks of detention without charge, and other powers.
In a statement, Human Rights Watch said the decision of the human rights council was a “collective failure” that “does not reflect the seriousness of the situation on the ground.”
“At the same time, it is quite clear that Duterte and the state forces behind the brutal campaign are not free and will face ongoing scrutiny,” added Laila Matar, UN deputy director for Human Rights Watch.
“The states in the Human Rights Council must follow up and ensure that an international investigation is launched in case the killings and repression against civil society do not end,” he said.
