Callamard To Meet Drug War Victims In First Philippine Visit Since 2017

Former United Nations special rapporteur on extrajudicial killings Agnès Callamard will return to the Philippines for the first time since 2017 to meet with victims of the Duterte administration’s bloody war on drugs.

Callamard, now secretary general of human rights organization Amnesty International, will be in the country from Nov. 19 to 22, two months after the Marcos government lifted the Duterte-era immigration ban that prevented her from entering the country. 

“I’m delighted to be able to return to the Philippines, a country close to my heart where I have many friends. I am moved to meet once again with victims and survivors of Duterte’s so-called ‘war on drugs’ and pay tribute in person to their incredible courage and resilience,” Callamard said in a statement.

“This long overdue visit comes at a historic time, with Duterte finally set to go on trial in The Hague for the crime against humanity of murder. Without the determined efforts of the Filipino people, lawyers and civil society, this powerful exercise in international justice would not have been possible,” she added.

A fierce critic of the drug war, Callamard repeatedly drew the ire of Duterte for her strong rebuke of the human rights violations during his administration.

She visited the Philippines in 2017 to attend an academic conference, prompting the Duterte government to issue an immigration ban.

In her upcoming visit, Callamard will meet with drug war victims and their families, as well as other human rights advocates.

She will also speak at the launch of Amnesty International Philippines’ book, Walang Pahimakas (No Farewell): Anthology of Poems on the “War on Drugs”, and participate in the Social Good Summit organized by Rappler.

Ahead of her visit, Callamard urged the Philippine government to fully cooperate with the International Criminal Court (ICC) while pursuing  accountability in the country.

“Justice does not begin and end in The Hague,” she said. “That means independently investigating those allegedly responsible for unlawful killings, prosecuting them in fair proceedings where there is sufficient evidence, and ensuring victims and their families have access to effective remedies here in the Philippines.”