United Nations experts and international environmental rights activists called for “better global protections” for Filipino environmental defenders.
In an international webinar on August 10, the experts expressed alarm over what they described as “a worsening human rights situation” under the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte.
“Human rights defenders and environmental defenders speak truth to power, that is why they are being attacked, intimidated, silenced, and killed,” said Professor Surya Deva, member of the UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights.
Noting how hostile mindsets of government and business to defenders are contributing to the attacks, Deva said “there should be meaningful, holistic impact assessment of what value these projects add in terms of human rights promotion, promotion of the environment, and also the mitigation of any climate change impact.”
In a video message, Dr. David Boyd, UN Special Rapporteur on Environment and Human Rights, urged Filipino environmental defenders to “stay calm, carry on” and continue their “essential work,” calling for greater collaboration in developing global protection mechanisms.
“We need to develop stronger protection for environmental human rights defenders in the Philippines and across the world. All of us have a role to play in protecting human rights defenders,” Boyd said.
Heather Iqbal, senior communications adviser of international investigative group Global Witness, called for more international groups to step up to amplify the voice of Filipino environmental defenders in their vital role in addressing the climate crisis.
“There is an increasing recognition that the climate crisis is a human rights crisis, but unless there is civil society space for legitimate protests there will be no climate justice,” he said.
“Now more than ever it’s vital that organizations like Global Witness stand with those defending our future and follow their leadership,” Iqbal said.
The experts assailed the country’s new anti-terrorism law, describing it as a “wholesale threat” against environmental defenders and other critics and dissenters.
The webinar was organized by APNED, Kalikasan People’s Network for the Environment, EcuVoice, International League of Peoples’ Struggle Commission on Environmental and Climate Justice, Youth Advocates for Climate Action Philippines, and the International Indigenous People’s Movement for Self-Determination and Liberation.
