Rappler's latest stories on RIGHTS
[OPINION] Honoring the predecessors of the #HijaAko movement
'We should recognize that the #HijaAko Movement is not merely a Filipinized incarnation of the #MeToo Movement, because it is organically built upon the pioneering initiatives of early activists...the comfort women'
Ex-soldier who fled with puma turns himself over to police
Zoo officials say people should be aware that big cats are not pets
10 million kids 'may never return to school' after coronavirus
Save the Children says the economic fallout of the crisis could force an extra 90 to 117 million children into poverty, with a knock-on effect on school admissions
Netherlands takes Russia to European court over MH17 downing
The Dutch government's move is designed to support cases brought by the relatives of dozens of victims to the European Court of Human Rights
Darker days ahead: Rights groups slam rejection of ABS-CBN franchise
Human rights groups say this 'solidifies Duterte's tyranny' and proves 'we are under a de facto martial law'
Duterte created 'dangerous fiction' vs rights defenders – CHR report
The Commission on Human Rights says human rights defenders live a 'grim reality' in the Philippines as they face systematic and widespread attacks for their work
In first, U.S. punishes senior Chinese officials over Uighur rights
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says the United States was acting against 'horrific and systematic abuses' in the western region including forced labor, mass detention and involuntary population control
'Trapped' illegal workers in Saudi look to virus for escape
The problem is rooted in the 'kafala' sponsorship system, described by critics as a modern form of slavery that binds workers to their Saudi employers
[OPINION] Refugee protection and the threats of the Anti-Terrorism Law
'[The Anti-Terror Law] does not provide safeguards for innocent persons seeking asylum in the Philippines to not be wrongfully classified as terrorists'
[OPINION] Duterte raises the bar on impunity
'It is now hoped that petitions to junk the anti-terror law filed in the Supreme Court can be judiciously decided sooner than later'
Children's rights groups demand justice for 15-year-old killed in Ilocos Sur
The Child Rights Network says using quarantine rules to commit sexual violence and other crimes 'reflects impunity among the deviants in our law enforcement'
'Pride 20' fights back, accuses MPD of illegal arrest, sexual harassment
'Gamit ang dahas, pananakot, at pananakit, pa-traidor na binuwag nila ang aming mapayapang pagkilos,' says the so-called Pride 20 in their complaint against 32 Manila policemen
Russians, Saudis top UK 'independent' sanctions list for rights violators
'These sanctions are a forensic tool, they allow us to target perpetrators without punishing the wider people of a country that may be affected,' says Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab
[OPINYON] Ang buhay sa lansangan ay buhay ng pakikibaka ni Ka Elmer Portea
'Tayo naman ang hinahamon ng panahon. Ipagtanggol natin ang siyang nagtatanggol ng atin.'
U.S. judge temporarily closes controversial oil pipeline
Activists protested and blocked construction of the controversial $3.8-billion, 1,172-mile oil pipeline for months in 2016
[OPINION] Defiance as a moral obligation
'Jesus, in the Gospel, said that if a hand causes you to sin, it has to be cut off. This means that things that enable immorality have to be fought and abolished.'
[EDITORIAL] Wala nang 'middle ground' sa ilalim ng anti-terrorism law
Masakit mang aminin, nagtagumpay ang puwersa ng panunupil sa pagpapasa ng mga batas na ito sa Hong Kong at Pilipinas
[PODCAST] Law of Duterte Land: Can we trust the gov't panel probing drug war deaths?
The government trying to make systems work is a welcome thing, but is it sincere and is it moving fast enough? We take a nuanced look at policy work.
'Stealth declaration of martial law': Rights groups slam Duterte, anti-terror law
Human rights groups say the anti-terror law further deteriorates Philippine democracy
Botswana reports mysterious deaths of hundreds of elephants
'The carcasses were animals that had fallen down while walking...right on their sternum which is very unusual,' says conservation biologist Keith Lindsay
London hospital sees spike in child abuse during lockdown
Clinical examinations reveal symptoms including bleeding in the eyes, bruising, and scalp swelling, while X-rays or CAT scans show brain hemorrhaging, internal bleeding, and skull fractures
UP Visayas fraternity under fire after leak of lewd messages
Sister sorority UP Stella Juris says there is 'no place to justify nor tolerate any malicious conduct...allegedly committed by certain individuals who were identified as members of UP Scintilla Juris fraternity.'
U.S. seizes Chinese products made from human hair in forced labor crackdown
US Customs and Border Protection orders that the company's goods be held on grounds it uses prison and forced labor, including from children
[PODCAST] I've Got An Opinion: PWDs deserve respect – even if they don't look disabled
Many persons with disabilities don’t physically look disabled. Sometimes, that makes it even harder for them to get the help they need.
'Do not be fooled:' Groups say panel probing drug war deaths 'damage control'
(UPDATED) International group Human Rights Watch calls the panel 'nothing more than a ruse to shield the country from international scrutiny'
'I'm going to jump': Tensions on Ocean Viking migrant rescue ship
'I was at sea for a long time. I didn't warn the family, who must think I'm dead,' says Said, a 35-year-old Egyptian on the verge of tears
CHR: Duterte's strong-arm approach contributes to culture of impunity
CHR Commissioner Karen Gomez-Dumpit says the Philippines 'must change course guided by the human rights-based approach to democratic governance'
'Further chilling effect:' U.N. rights chief urges Duterte not to sign anti-terror bill
United Nations human rights chief Michelle Bachelet says the passage of the bill 'heightens our concerns about the blurring of important distinctions between criticism, criminality and terrorism'
U.N. rights chief: Duterte drug war 'without due regard for the rule of law'
UN human rights chief Michelle Bachelet says the 'killings have been widespread and systematic – and they are ongoing'
LIVE: U.N. rights office presents PH situation report to Human Rights Council
Watch Michelle Bachelet of the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights presents the comprehensive report on Tuesday, June 30, at 4:30 pm Manila time
SC's deference to Congress on same-sex union 'dooms marriage equality'
A paper published by UP Law criticizes the 2019 decision of the Supreme Court junking a same-sex marriage petition mainly due to technicalities, and says it was 'an abdication of its function as a Court'
Bias against women driven by people who think it doesn't exist – study
New research shows that managers who believe gender discrimination is a 'thing of the past' actually showed bias against women by suggesting a female job candidate be paid 8% less than a man
'Far from collateral damage:' Report shows 122 children killed in Duterte's drug war
The World Organization Against Torture and the Children’s Legal Rights and Development Center say the number is 'a minimum' as families are often too afraid to report or testify
As surrogacy booms, fears Ukraine becoming 'online baby store'
In some cases parents discover they have no genetic link with children born to surrogates
U.S. Supreme Court rejects key challenge to abortion rights
The conservative-leaning court split 5-4 in the decision overruling a state law that requires doctors who perform abortions to have admitting privileges at a nearby hospital
China forcibly sterilizes Uighurs to control population – report
A report by German researcher Adrian Zenz says Uighur women and other ethnic minorities are being threatened with confinement in re-education camps for refusing to abort pregnancies that exceed birth quotas
#StepUpUAP: Another school faces complaints of sexual harassment
The University of Asia and the Pacific encourages victims of sexual harassment to come forward and file complaints with the Office of Student Mentoring, Guidance and Counseling
Being trans in tech: Championing equality with Google’s Melai Lopez
'Never let anyone tell them that they do not belong in a certain space'
After #MCHSDoBetter goes viral, other schools urged to act on sexual harassment
Students and alumni from different institutions who experienced alleged sexual misconduct from teachers want their voices and pleas for justice to be heard
4 years on, climate of fear and impunity blocks justice for Duterte’s drug war victims
Police still refuse to cooperate with the Commission on Human Rights while some families signify that they will probably file cases after the Duterte administration
‘Is this the new normal?’ Catriona Gray questions Pride march arrests
‘Now is the time to speak up,’ Miss Universe 2018 urges her followers
'Hindi makatarungan': Artists, celebrities speak out vs arrest of Pride march protesters
On social media, several artists and celebrities condemn the arrests and call for the release of the protesters
C’mon guys, it’s 2020: Debunking LGBTQ+ stereotypes
To this day, LGBTQ+ members still experience prejudice and endure stereotypes that may harm them
Taiwan's 'conservative anarchist' transgender cabinet member
Audrey Tang, Taiwan's digital minister and the world's first openly transgender cabinet member says, it is the experience of living through different identities that allows her to see multiple perspectives
U.N. experts renew call for urgent probe into Philippines' human rights abuses
(UPDATED) The experts also call on the International Criminal Court to 'expedite and prioritize the completion of its preliminary examination of the situation in the Philippines'
On Pride Month, Pia Wurtzbach calls for 'higher platforms' for LGBTQ+ dialogue
'Being an ally is someone who gives a sense of a safe and affirming space for our loving community,' says Pia
Catriona Gray on allyship: 'To be better allies, we need to educate ourselves'
'Being an ally starts with small acts every day,' says Catriona
Kevin Balot 'sorry for confusion,' walks back on beauty pageant statement
'Thank you for all your comments and bubulay-bulayin ko po lahat yun para ma improve ang way of thinking ko,' says Kevin, who was crowned Miss International Queen 2012
Macaque attack: Humans try to take back Thai city from monkeys
Welcome to Lopburi, an ancient Thai city overrun by monkeys super-charged on junk food, whose population is growing out of control
Ukraine airline official suspended after dead puppies found on plane
The surviving French bulldogs, a popular breed in Canada, suffer from symptoms including dehydration, weakness, and vomiting
