In the UN, organizations call for investigations into deaths in the “war on drugs” in the Philippines
According to the Commission on Human Rights, the victims include journalists, trade union leaders and critics of President Duterte
Rodrigo Duterte, President of the Philippines, participates in the Business Forum in the Lotte Hotel in Seoul
In a letter sent to the UN on Thursday, August 27, nearly 60 organizations from different parts of the world expressed their concern over the human rights violations committed by the Philippines government within the context of the “war on drugs”.
The letter was addressed to the United Nations Human Rights Council, which is holding its 45th session of debates between September 14 and October 6.
The organizations emphasize the need for impartial investigations to be conducted into recent killings in the country by law enforcement officers in operations combating drug trafficking.
Since the current president, Rodrigo Duterte, took office in June 2016, the human rights situation in the Asian archipelago has suffered a “dramatic decline”.
According to official data, 8,663 people have been killed in the war on drugs. However, the Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines claims that the figure is at least three times higher.
The Commission notes that among the dead are human rights defenders and government critics, activists, journalists, religious leaders, trade union leaders, indigenous and peasant leaders and individuals who are members of groups affiliated with the political left that disagree with Duterte’s anti-drug war.
