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“If you are poor you are killed”: Extrajudicial Executions in the Philippines’ “War on Drugs”

Acting on instructions from the very top of government, the Philippines police have killed and paid others to kill thousands of alleged drug offenders in a wave of extrajudicial executions that may amount to crimes against humanity, Amnesty International said in a report published today.

January 27, 2017

Press Release

Philippines: Duterte’s claims encourage mass killings

Responding to claims made by Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte that he “personally” killed suspected criminals while serving as mayor of the city of Davao, Rafendi Djamin, Amnesty International's Director for South East Asia and the Pacific, said:    “President Duterte’s claim that he has personally killed suspected criminals takes the meaning of “state-sanctioned” violence to a whole new level. The climate of impunity in the Philippines has intensified even further since President Duterte began his brutal crackdown on suspected drug users and dealers in July, with a wave of unlawful killings claiming more than 5,000 lives across the country. By…

December 14, 2016

Press Release

Philippines: Duterte’s 100 days of carnage

100 days after Rodrigo Duterte became president of the Philippines, a wave of unlawful killings has already claimed more than 3,000 lives, shattering progress on human rights in the country, Amnesty International said today. “Rodrigo Duterte’s first 100 days as president have been marked by state-sanctioned violence on a truly shocking scale. His brutal crackdown on those allegedly involved in drug crimes has led to carnage on the streets and the obliteration of key human rights, including the right to life and to due process,” said Rafendi Djamin, Director of Southeast Asia and the Pacific at Amnesty International. “Since he…

October 7, 2016

Press Release

Human Rights Abuses in Laos, the Philippines and Myanmar Must Lead Obama’s Human Rights Agenda for Asian Summit

As President Obama prepares for next week’s Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Laos, Amnesty International USA has urged him to press leaders to address human rights abuses in the region.

September 1, 2016

Press Release

Philippines: Over 1700 killings by unknown assassins and police indicate lawlessness, not crime control

The disclosure by Philippine’s Police Chief Ronald dela Rosa that there have been at least 1067 killings by unidentified people and over 712 killings by police in the Philippines since July 1, is a terrifying indication that the authorities are grossly failing in their obligations to respect and protect the right to life.

August 24, 2016

Press Release

Philippines: President’s ‘Shoot to kill’ directive violates fundamental right to life

Philippine President Duterte’s promise on August 5 to maintain a “shoot to kill” order in his crackdown on crime is a clear violation of the fundamental human right to life and could lead to further killings in the country.

August 10, 2016

Press Release

Historic ruling on police torture in Philippines following Amnesty International campaign

A historic ruling by a Philippines court this week in which a police officer was convicted of torturing bus driver Jerryme Corre plants a seed of hope that the tide may be turning against impunity for perpetrators of torture, Amnesty International said today.

April 1, 2016

Press Release

Amnesty International’s Annual State of the World Report Slams Governments, Including the U.S., for Global Assault on Freedoms

On the launch of its 2015 State of the World report, Amnesty International USA urged President Obama to use his last year in office to bring U.S. laws and policies in line with international human rights standards.

February 22, 2016

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Amnesty International State of the World 2015-2016

International protection of human rights is in danger of unravelling as short-term national self-interest and draconian security crackdowns have led to a wholesale assault on basic freedoms and rights, warned Amnesty International as it launched its annual assessment of human rights around the world. “Your rights are in jeopardy: they are being treated with utter contempt by many governments around the world,” said Salil Shetty, Secretary General of Amnesty International.

February 18, 2016

Press Release

Your rights in jeopardy, global assault on freedoms, warns Amnesty International

International protection of human rights is in danger of unravelling as short-term national self-interest and draconian security crackdowns have led to a wholesale assault on basic freedoms and rights, warned Amnesty International as it launched its annual assessment of human rights around the world. “Your rights are in jeopardy: they are being treated with utter contempt by many governments around the world,” said Salil Shetty, Secretary General of Amnesty International.

February 18, 2016

Press Release

Philippines: Government must tackle rampant police torture epidemic

Torture at the hands of the police in the Philippines continues with alarming frequency while those responsible are almost always allowed to evade justice, Amnesty International said.

December 7, 2015

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State of the World 2014/2015

This has been a devastating year for those seeking to stand up for human rights and for those caught up in the suffering of war zones. Governments pay lip service to the importance of protecting civilians. And yet the world's politicians have miserably failed to protect those in greatest need. Amnesty International believes that this can and must finally change.

February 25, 2015