PHL human rights situation could prompt economic sanctions from UN peers — HRW

The human rights situation in the Philippines could prompt economic sanctions from its United Nations peers, the international non-government organization Human Rights Watch (HRW) said over the weekend.

"As we see a broad range of states speaking out and condemning the Philippines—as they already have through the joint statements—then inevitably, those states that factor human rights into their economic relationship are going to have reservations about renewing trade contracts," HRW Geneva advocacy director John Fisher said in an interview with GMA News Online.

"There's a broad range of sanctions...Of course, there can be economic sanctions, particularly by states within their bilateral relationships," he added.

Fisher's remarks come after the release of a joint statement from 39 countries, delivered by Iceland Representative to the UN Högni Kristjánsson during the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) meeting last month.

"We remain particularly concerned about the thousands of killings and climate of impunity associated with the war on drugs, and note the government’s recent stated commitments to observe due process in investigating these crimes," the statement read.

It was signed by countries that expressed "serious concern" over the human rights situation in the Philippines.

The statement was released after the Philippine government rejected 154 out of 257 recommendations from UN member states to address the state of human rights in the country.

'Chorus of voices' condemning killings

Fisher said that the killings have stood out from an initially broader base of issues regarding the Philippines.

"What was initially I think a broad range of concerns is now growing into a chorus of voices condemning the conduct of the campaign of killings by the government and calling for an end to impunity significantly as well," Fisher said.

"The GSP+ process I think is still under consideration by the European Union, and all of the full range of trade relationships are potentially at risk," he added.

Just last week, European Union Ambassador to the Philippines Franz Jessen stressed the importance of human rights as one of the requisites under the Generalized System of Preferences Plus (GSP+).

The GSP+, currently under review by the EU, is a tariff mechanism that gives developing countries—including the Philippines—the privilege of exporting zero-duty merchandise to EU member states.

It requires the Philippine ratification of 27 international conventions which cater to human and labor rights, environmental protection, and good governance, among others.

To recall, European Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malstrom in March said the Philippines could possibly lose billions of dollars in trade deals should judicial concerns in the country persist.

"I think virtually every EU member state signed the joint statement led by Iceland so I think that's clearly going to be a factor during the GSP+ renewal of trade advantages with the Philippines," Fisher said.

"When the US joins a joint statement condemning the killings and calling for the end to the impunity, that's a very very clear message as well," he added.

GMA News Online has reached out to Malacañang and the Philippine National Police (PNP) for comment, but no response has been received as of posting. — BM, GMA News