In June 2020, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights released a comprehensive and alarming report on the human rights situation in the Philippines. The report verifies the killings of 208 human rights defenders, journalists and trade unionists. The report makes a number of recommendations to the Philippines Government to stop the repression, extrajudicial killings, violence and harassment, and ensure that rights to freedom of expression, association and freedom of assembly are respected. None of the recommendations have been implemented to date.
The ACTU urges the Australian Government to sponsor a resolution at the upcoming 45th session of the UN Human Rights Council to follow up on the progress of the recommendations in the UN High Commissioner’s report, and call on the Philippines Government to implement the recommendations as a matter of urgency.
