Philippines
Active Cases
The environment in which human rights defenders work in the Philippines has been described by the UN Special Representative on Human Rights Defenders as “a particularly dangerous one”. There has been an escalation in extra-judicial killings, shootings and abductions, which take place in a climate of impunity. In particular, defenders working in the fields of women’s rights, urban poverty, peasants’ rights and workers’ rights are targeted, as are journalists and defenders who are critical of the military or seen as being sympathetic to the communist movement.
The UN Special Representative states that “defenders in the Philippines are active in the fields of urban poverty, farmers’ rights and peasants’ rights, in trade unions, in student and teacher organisations, rights of disabled people, rights of children and youths, legal assistance and campaigning for the promotion of environmental rights. Many priests, church leaders and lawyers are also involved in promoting and protecting human rights.” Certain defenders have been put at risk by accusations by civilian and military leaders that they are fronts for the communist insurgency or "enemies of the state." Defenders have reportedly been subjected to harassment and surveillance by security forces, threats, arbitrary arrests, ill-treatment and torture in police custody, extended periods of detention, “disappearances” and extra-judicial killings. There are fears that human rights activities will be further constrained by the broadly drafted anti-terrorism legislation (the Human Security Act) introduced in February 2007.