The International Criminal Court (ICC) has taken former Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte into custody, charging him with crimes against humanity related to thousands of extrajudicial killings during his anti-drug campaign from 2011 to 2019.
UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk welcomed this development, calling it a crucial step towards accountability for the victims and their families. He emphasised that the charges against Duterte will now be handled fairly and independently under international law.
Türk commended the Philippines Government for cooperating with the ICC in enforcing the arrest warrant. However, he also stressed the importance of ensuring the safety of victims, witnesses, and human rights advocates, preventing any reprisals against those seeking justice.
The UN has long raised concerns about Duterte’s war on drugs, which first began in Davao before expanding nationwide. A 2020 UN Human Rights Office report found credible evidence of widespread and systematic extrajudicial killings, with almost no convictions. Various UN human rights bodies, including the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial executions, also documented severe abuses during Duterte’s rule.
Despite some efforts by the Philippines authorities to review past cases, only a handful have resulted in convictions. Türk stated that the ICC’s involvement now opens a path to addressing impunity at the highest level and exposing the full extent of these crimes.
He also urged the Philippines to rejoin the Rome Statute, which the country withdrew from in 2019. The UN previously collaborated with the Philippines through a joint programme to strengthen domestic accountability and promote human rights-based approaches to drug policy, concluding in 2024.
Türk reiterated that global legal institutions like the ICC are vital for ensuring justice, preventing future violations, and making the world safer for all.
