The war on drugs – a top priority of OMCT

Press release

Geneva, 15 March 2017 – On the occasionof the upcoming Philippines’ Universal Periodic Review on human rights by theUN, the World Organization Against Torture (OMCT) will this week on twooccasions denounce the many violations of President Duterte’s “war on drugs”and encourage Member States to pressure him to end it.

Since Rodrigo Duterte took office in June 2016,more than 7,000 people – including children – have been tortured or killed inthe poorest neighborhoods of the country’s capital as part of police investigationsto fight against crime, corruption and insecurity – all three blamed on drugdealers and users. The perpetrators of these crimes, usually recorded as actsof self-defense acts, remain unpunished, resulting in a worrying and relentlesserosion of the rule of law in the Philippines.

OMCT alongside its Philippine partner Children’s Legal Rights and DevelopmentCenter (CLRDC) have been working in the country since 2009 to protectdetained children from torture. They have observed a significant increase incases of arbitrary detention, torture and extrajudicial executions of minorssince Duterte’s election as President. In the first six months of his termalone, they have documented at least 30 child executions in the Manila region.

“ThePhilippines are not isolated. They are only the tip of the iceberg of theviolation of human rights,” declared Mr. Staberock. “If we remain indifferentto what is happening, there will be no limits – the worst could happen anywhereand to anyone.”

As happens in many other countries, respect fordemocracy and the law is being forsaken in the name of national security. Butthese two can – and should – be compatible. That is OMCT’s stance, which theorganization is reiterating this week during two debates on the alarming humanrights situation in the country. The aim is to raise awareness among thegeneral public and urge international actors and United Nations Member Statesto put pressure on the Duterte Administration.

At the UN

OMCT Secretary General Gerald Staberock hosted adebate on 15 March from 15:00 to 16:30 in Room XXV of Palais des Nations. Itwas a side event to the 34th session of the UN Human Rights Council,which will close on 24 March.

The Philippines’ UPR will take place on 8 Maythis year. The last revision of the measures taken by the country by all UNMember States took place in 2012, five years ago. The Human Rights Council usesthe UPR to remind States of their responsibility to protect and guarantee allhuman rights and fundamental freedoms.

At the FIFDH

On March 18 – closing day of the 15th edition ofthe Festival du film et forum international surles droits humains (FIFDH) – OMCT will co-host alongside Délégation GenèveVille Solidaire (DGVS) a debate at 20:30 entitled “Philippines: License toKill”. This debate will follow the screening of Tirà vue sur les dealers.

Leila de Lima, unable to attend the debate afterbeing arrested on February 24, will be represented by her Chief of Cabinet, Philip Sawali. De Lima is Duterte’smain opponent and President of the Philippine Human Rights Commission. She wasaccused of setting up a drug trafficking network in a move intended to silence her, according to some observers.

OMCT, Amnesty International and the Office ofthe United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights have publicly and repeatedlydenounced President Duterte’s deadly policy. According to several NGOs thepolice, under direct orders from President Duterte (who boasts of having killedsome dealers himself), could be committing crimes against humanity. The FIFDH,Amnesty International and OMCT have called for the immediate release of Leilade Lima.

UN special rapporteur on extrajudicial killings Agnes Callamard, who will attend thedebate, has demandedPresident Duterte to put an end to the war on drugs. In August 2016 sheasked the Philippine authorities to take all necessary measure to protectthe population from executions and to decriminalize drug users.

Lastly Rosemarie Trajano,activist, director of the Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (PAHRA)and member of OMCT’s General Assembly will present her view on the matter. Thedebate will be moderated by Chloé Rémond,an independent French journalist based in the Philippines.

OMCT brings togetheran international network of over 200 NGOs fighting torture and protecting humanrights all over the world.

Among the activities organized from theirheadquarters in Geneva, Brussels and Tunis, OMCT provides medical, financialand legal assistance to torture victims as well as technical, financial andstrategic assistance to anti-torture NGOs in its capacity as civil societycoordinator before the UN Committee Against Torture. The organization alsodefends human rights and works towards the enforcement of the prohibition oftorture.

Watch the films competing for the OMCT price at#FIFDH17 and tell us what you think. Follow us and be up to date of #HRC34 on@OMCTorg

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More information on our website: www.omct.org

Media contact: Lori Brumat lb@omct.org