MANILA - Several local and international organizations have appealed to the UN Human Rights Council on Thursday to urgently launch an independent investigation mechanism on alleged rights abuses in th
e Philippines.
The OHCHR earlier said in a report that the Philippines' stance on addressing national security threats and illegal drugs has led to serious human rights violations, including the killing of more than 8,000 people during the government's drug war, based on official figures. "As noted in the High Commissioner's report, persistent impunity for human rights violations is stark and the practical obstacles to accessing justice within the country are almost insurmountable," the right groups said.
Rights advocates noted that since President Rodrigo Duterte assumed power in 2016, the "human rights situation in the Philippines has undergone a dramatic decline." Rights advocates said that "given the failure of the Philippine authorities to stop or effectively investigate crimes under international law and punish those responsible", creating an independent, impartial and comprehensive probe into the alleged human rights violations by the government since Duterte became president in 2016 is the "only credible next step" that the UNHRC can take to address the rights situation in the country.
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