UN body urges Philippines to stop killings of drug suspects

MANILA, Philippines - A committee of the United Nations has expressed concern over the declarations of Philippine government officials in the context that the “war on drugs” may be seen to encourage and legitimize violence against suspected illegal drug offenders, justifying summary killings.

The UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) urged the Philippines to stop and prevent extrajudicial killings and any form of violence against illegal drug offenders.

“Indeed, the number of extrajudicial killings of drug suspects has drastically increased in recent months and a large number of people have been arrested and detained in already overcrowded prisons. Poor neighborhoods and individuals have been disproportionately affected in this process,” CESCR said. 

The CESCR is a UN body of 18 experts that usually meets twice a year in Geneva to consider the five yearly reports submitted by UN member-states on their compliance with the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. 

The UN committee adopted the observations made after concluding the review on the Philippines’ implementation of the covenant.

The CESCR also expressed concern over the criminalization of the possession and use of drugs. It said drug users should be treated and regrets the shortage of treatment centers for drug addicts in the Philippines.

The committee urged the Philippines to investigate all reported cases and take appropriate actions and measures to “ensure that the fight against drug trafficking does not have a discriminatory impact on the poor and marginalized.”

The Philippines was also recommended to reconsider the criminalization of drug users; adopt a right-to-health approach to drug abuse with harm reduction strategies; increase the availability of treatment services and be respectful of the rights of drug users.

The UN committee also expressed its concern at the continuing cases of harassment, disappearance, threats of killing as well killing of human rights defenders, despite the adoption of the Philippines of the UN order to address extrajudicial killings.

It is also concerned at the low level of investigation, prosecution and convictions of such cases.

The Philippines was urged to take all measures necessary to protect human rights defenders, including trade union activists, defenders of the urban poor, indigenous activists and peasant activists, from killing and all forms of violence and ensure a safe and favorable environment supportive of the work of these defenders to promote and protect economic, social and cultural rights. 

“It also recommends that the State party step up its efforts to promptly and thoroughly investigate all reported cases of harassment, disappearance and killing of human rights defenders and bring the perpetrators to justice,” it said.