Rappler's latest stories on human rights in the Philippines
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
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'
[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
'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
'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
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
Amnesty PH slams PDEA for seeking info on 'drug suspects' via Facebook
The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency wants to get tips on drug suspects through a Facebook page. Amnesty International Philippines hits the 'dangerous' move.
‘Mas dapat magalit’: Filipino youth face dangerous future with anti-terror bill
The Filipino youth will bear the brunt of the anti-terror bill's long-lasting effects
[EDITORIAL] 'Terror bill' ang veerus na papatay sa kalayaan
Ang anti-terrorism bill ay 'palaruan ng mga demonyo,' isang 'prelude to hell' sa ilalim ng isang despotiko
PH refuses to fully implement U.N. human rights recommendations
The Duterte administration 'fully rejects' findings of the UN human rights office that government actions are shrinking civic space for legitimate dissent and leading to serious abuses
[PODCAST] Mapanganib ang anti-terror bill para sa lahat ng Filipino
Paano maaapektuhan ng anti-terror bill ang ordinaryong mamamayan?
U.N. report: PH local system not enough to exact accountability for killings
This is noteworthy because to open a formal investigation, where summonses and arrest orders can be issued, the ICC must establish that the Philippines is unable or unwilling to investigate on its own
U.N. report: Documents suggest PH police planted guns in drug war ops
United Nations Human Rights Office says 'police repeatedly recovered guns bearing the same serial numbers from different victims in different locations'
Abuses, killings in PH possibly incited by Duterte's violent rhetoric – U.N. report
Widespread killings and abuses 'suggest that [Duterte]'s public comments may have incited violence and may have had the effect of encouraging, backing, or even ordering human rights violations with impunity'
Duterte's focus on 'real and inflated' security threats leads to serious rights violations – U.N. report
(UPDATED) The United Nations Human Rights Office says human rights violations in the Philippines have been 'reinforced by harmful rhetoric from high-level officials,' some rising 'to the level of incitement to violence'
DOCUMENT: U.N. Human Rights report on killings, abuses in PH
The report by the United Nations says the Duterte goverment's 'heavy-handed' focus on national security threats has led to serious human rights abuses
Rights groups slam anti-terror bill that will institutionalize Duterte's abuse of power
Human rights groups call out the Duterte government for prioritizing the anti-terror bill while the Philippines is in the middle of a pandemic
CHR brands anti-terror bill 'highly intrusive,' open to abuse
The Commission on Human Rights says the bill's broad definition of terrorism is an 'overreach' that could harm Filipinos in the long run
'Reject this': Human rights lawyers up in arms vs 'repressive' anti-terror bill
'The attempt to use the anti-terror bill as a tool for repression rather than for thwarting terrorism is appalling,' says the Ateneo Human Rights Center, which calls for its rejection
Duterte's violent drug war leaves children traumatized – HRW
(UPDATED) The 'harmful consequences' of the anti-drug campaign go beyond bloody raids, says Human Rights Watch. Children who lose a loved one are left deeply scarred.
[PODCAST] Ang mga problemang dulot ng warrantless arrests
Bakit tila ang due process ay para sa mga kakampi lamang ng Duterte administration?
Groups want rights-based coronavirus measures for post-lockdown PH
The Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates and In Defense of Human Rights and Dignity Movement call on lawmakers to consider rights-based governance as they draw up what a post-lockdown Philippines will look like
[PODCAST] Bakit maraming insidente ng pang-aabuso sa ilalim ng lockdown?
Bakit malaki ang papel ng pulis at militar laban sa coronavirus pandemic?
4 drug suspects dead, 9 arrested in Bulacan anti-illegal drugs operations
Authorities say all the alleged shootout happened in the wee hours covered by the curfew imposed under the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in the province
Human Rights Watch asks DILG to rein in 'out of control' law enforcers
The rights group says the Department of the Interior and Local Government 'must exercise effective oversight over its personnel, investigate all reports of abuses, and hold officers committing rights violations accountable'
[EDITORIAL] Tigilan ang giyera laban sa mga pasaway, virus ang kaaway
Ito ang serbisyo publiko na hatid ni Digong at ng pulisya: ang mang-aresto, mambrusko at manakot? We deserve better from this government.
[OPINION] Police discretion is advised
'The Philippine National Police force is not a private army'
No, DILG Usec, privilege of writ of habeas corpus not suspended
Suspending the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus empowers authorities to arrest and detain anyone without a court order. But we are not under martial law.
CHR reminds gov't: Human rights not suspended in fight vs coronavirus
(UPDATED) Human rights should be 'at the center of government efforts' against the novel coronavirus outbreak in the Philippines
Rights group: PH government's offer of dialogue on abuses 'hollow, hypocritical'
The Ecumenical Voice for Human Rights and Peace in the Philippines says the Philippine government 'continues without fail to go berserk' instead of addressing issues head-on
[OPINION] Campus militarization: Imagined or real?
'It was disturbing how the army made the extreme argument that when you criticize your government, you are against it'
U.N. experts remind Duterte gov't: Targeting activists makes them vulnerable to violence
The United Nations website indicates no reply from the Philippine government regarding the official communication sent in December 2019 by the special rapporteurs
[OPINION] Do you believe in 'quiet activism?'
'I realized that activism does not always need to be performed publicly, that some kinds of activism are not obvious'
Duterte gov't depriving activists of legal options, says Amnesty Int'l
Amnesty International expresses alarm that activists continue to 'face threats and undue restrictions' without any way to protect themselves
[OPINION] Activists take care of our rights, but who takes care of our activists?
Activists want to be reassured that their physical, emotional, and mental well-being also matters
PH lifts suspension on loan deals with 18 states backing Iceland resolution
The suspension is lifted, effective immediately
Lives in danger as red-tagging campaign intensifies
Ibon Foundation says the red-tagging by the Duterte government is the 'first step in a much larger and more sinister agenda'
Altermidya correspondent, 4 human rights leaders arrested in Tacloban
(UPDATED) Various media and school organizations call for their immediate release, saying the arrests are meant to silence media and human rights defenders
For a 'human rights culture': Group launches children's rights comic book
Batang May K!, a collaboration between PhilRights and Makô, hopes to make children understand better the importance of human rights amid violations under President Rodrigo Duterte
Dishonesty, lack of transparency ‘glaring’ features of Duterte gov’t – rights group
PhilRights executive director Nymia Simbulan says the lack of state accountability reflects 'how the government values and looks at human rights and human lives'
Ibon Foundation: Duterte gov't 'red-tagging' meant to silence dissent
Ibon Foundation, a policy research group formed in 1978, says 'the public deserves the truth and to be informed about the issues that matter to them the most'
Still no 'meaningful accountability' over drug war killings under Duterte – Amnesty Int'l
Amnesty International says that 'families were unable to obtain justice for their loved ones, due to enormous obstacles to filing cases against perpetrators, including fear of retaliation'
CHR calls for justice over killing of peasant leader in Northern Samar
The Commission on Human Rights says the Duterte government must stop 'all forms of violence and harassment against human rights defenders'
No letup in human rights abuses under Duterte – Human Rights Watch
'The need for international mechanisms to provide accountability is as great as ever,' says Human Rights Watch Deputy Asia Director Phil Robertson
Sabio 'drops' ICC communication vs Duterte, but does it matter?
(UPDATED) Experts say it will not affect the ongoing preliminary examination of the Philippine case
Big majority of Filipinos see 'many' human rights abuses in Duterte's drug war – SWS
(UPDATED) Majority of respondents in the December 2019 survey agree with the United Nations Human Rights Council resolution calling for actions against extrajudicial killings related to President Rodrigo Duterte's anti-illegal drug campaign
U.S. senators to Duterte: Human rights violations must end
'While we remain a steadfast ally of the Philippines, we also remain resolute in defending human rights and the rule of law,' says US Democratic Senator Edward Markey
Families to Duterte gov't: You killed our loved ones, not the drug problem
The Rise Up for Life and for Rights network says the Duterte government must pay its 'bloody debt'
