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Amnesty International

Press Release

Philippines: Vindication For Leila de Lima As Last Bogus Charge Dismissed

This is full freedom and vindication, finally, for human rights defender Leila de Lima, after her nearly seven years of arbitrary detention, as well as relentless political persecution.

June 24, 2024

Press Release

Amnesty USA and Amnesty Philippines Make Human Rights asks to Biden and Marcos Ahead of White House Visit

Amnesty urges Philippines President Marcos President Biden to discuss human rights

April 27, 2023

NOEL CELIS/AFP via Getty Images

Press Release

After Witness’ Retraction, Senator de Lima Must Be Freed Immediately

On the retraction of self-confessed drug lord and state witness Kerwin Espinosa of his allegations that Senator Leila de Lima was involved in the illegal drug trade, Butch Olano, Amnesty International Philippines Section Director, said:

April 28, 2022

Press Release

End Persecution of Media as Journalists Collect ‘Momentous’ Nobel Peace Prize

Responding to journalists Maria Ressa and Dmitry Muratov collecting the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo, Amnesty International’s Secretary General Agnes Callamard said:  “For the first time in almost a century, the Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded to journalists, highlighting the bravery and outstanding achievements of media in an increasingly polarized world where facts and truth are under relentless attack. 

December 10, 2021

Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images

Sheet of paper Report

Vietnamese Activists Targeted by Notorious Hacking Group

Hacking group Ocean Lotus, which has been suspected of having links with the Vietnamese government, is behind a sustained campaign of spyware attacks on the country’s human rights activists, a new investigation by Amnesty Tech reveals, underscoring an intensifying assault on freedom of expression.

February 23, 2021

MANILA, PHILIPPINES - APRIL 12: Soldiers stand guard outside a closed church to keep devotees away, amid government orders for everyone to stay home to avoid spreading the coronavirus, as Filipinos mark Easter Sunday on April 12, 2020 in Manila, Philippines. Easter Sunday is a Christian festival and holiday commemorating the resurrection of Jesus from the dead on the third day following his crucifixion. Most Easter celebrations in the Philippines have been cancelled after religious gatherings have been banned as part of government lockdown measures imposed on the country's main island Luzon to curb the spread of the coronavirus. Land, sea, and air travel has been suspended, while government work, schools, businesses, and public transportation have been ordered shut in a bid to keep some 55 million people at home. The Philippines' Department of Health has so far confirmed 4,428 cases of the new coronavirus in the country, with at least 247 recorded fatalities. The Philippines is the only Roman Catholic majority in Southeast Asia with around 85% practicing the faith. (Photo by Ezra Acayan/Getty Images)

Press Release

Duterte Advisor’s Threat of “Body Bags” Shows Philippines Authorities’ Dangerous COVID-19 Response

Responding to Philippine Senator Bong Go’s statement about having body bags available for “drug addicts or peddlers of fake news,” Amnesty International’s Deputy Regional Director for Campaigns Ming Yu Hah said:

April 13, 2020

MANILA, PHILIPPINES - APRIL 1: A dog is seen at the empty street at Quiapo in Manila, Philippines on April 01, 2020. Several places in Metro manila become empty as the government implements the lockdown due to coronavirus outbreak wherein the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 is still growing in the Philippines. (Photo by Dante Diosina JR/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

Press Release

Shoot-to-kill Order by the President Alarming, Oppressive Approach to Pandemic in the Philippines

Responding to orders from President Duterte to police, military officials and barangay officials to shoot ‘troublemakers’ protesting during community quarantine, reports of further arrests for breaches of quarantine and news that 21 residents of a village in Quezon City were arrested after demanding relief from the local government in light of the community quarantine, Philippine Section Director, Butch Olano, said:

April 2, 2020

MANILA, PHILIPPINES - JULY 17: Relatives of alleged extrajudicial killings wear veils as they take part in a protest versus the drug war killings outside the military and police headquarters on July 17, 2019 in Manila, Philippines. The United Nations Human Rights Council last week voted to launch an investigation into alleged crimes against humanity in President Rodrigo Duterte's controversial and bloody "war on drugs", which human rights group estimate to have killed more than 27,000 mostly poor victims. (Photo by Ezra Acayan/Getty Images)

Press Release

Free Senator de Lima and End Attacks on Rights Defenders in the Philippines

Philippine authorities should immediately release Senator Leila de Lima, who has been detained for three years, and drop the politically motivated charges against her, Amnesty International, FORUM-ASIA, and Human Rights Watch said today.

February 24, 2020

Activists comprised of students and professionals gather in front of a banner as they take part in a world-wide climate rally, at the University of the Philippines' campus in Manila on September 20, 2019. - Activists in Manila took part in the millions-strong global climate strike on September 20 -- heeding the rallying cry of teen activist Greta Thunberg and demanding adults take action to stave off environmental disaster. (Photo by TED ALJIBE / AFP) (Photo credit should read TED ALJIBE/AFP via Getty Images)

Press Release

Landmark Decision by Philippines’ Human Rights Commission Paves Way for Climate Litigation

The Philippines Human Rights Commission has today created a beacon of hope for the victims of the climate crisis. 

December 9, 2019

Press Release

Write For Rights: Amnesty International Launches Global Campaign Championing Youth Activists

Amnesty International has today launched Write for Rights, the world’s biggest human rights campaign, which this year champions children’s rights and youth activists.

November 17, 2019

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte gestures as he delivers his state of the nation address at Congress in Manila on July 22, 2019.  (Photo by Noel CELIS / AFP) (Photo credit should read NOEL CELIS/AFP/Getty Images)

Press Release

President’s Call to Revive Death Penalty in the Philippines Will Only Worsen Climate of Impunity

President Duterte’s call to revive the death penalty during his State of the Nation Address (SONA) will only worsen the country’s climate of impunity amid the government’s deadly anti-drugs campaign, Amnesty International said today.

July 22, 2019

HAMBURG, GERMANY - MARCH 01: Teenage Swedish activist Greta Thunberg demonstrates with high school students against global warming at a Fridays for Future demonstration on March 01, 2019 in Hamburg, Germany. Fridays for Future is an international movement of students who, instead of attending their classes, take part in demonstrations demanding for action against climate change. The series of demonstrations began when Thunberg staged such a protest outside the Swedish parliament building. (Photo by Adam Berry/Getty Images)

Press Release

Climate activists Greta Thunberg and the Fridays for Future movement honored with top Amnesty International award

Climate change activist Greta Thunberg and the Fridays for Future movement of school-children have been honored with Amnesty International’s Ambassador of Conscience Award for 2019, the human rights organization announced today. “The Ambassador of Conscience Award is Amnesty International’s highest honor, celebrating people who have shown unique leadership and courage in standing up for human rights. I can think of no better recipients this year than Greta Thunberg and the Fridays for Future climate strike movement,” said Kumi Naidoo, Secretary General of Amnesty International. “We are humbled and inspired by the determination with which youth activists across the world are…

June 7, 2019