Archives: Media Releases

Today, June 26, 2025, as the world observes the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, the Samahan ng Ex-detainees Laban sa Detensyon at Aresto (SELDA), an organization of former political prisoners, stands in solidarity with all survivors of torture and their families and reiterate our demand for truth, justice and accountability for the …

Former political prisoners decry torture, demand release of all political prisoners Read More »

GENEVA – Human rights defenders participating at the 59th UN Human Rights Council session renewed calls to the Philippine government to surface missing activists James Jazmines and Felix Salaveria Jr., as they submitted letters of allegation on their abduction and enforced disappearance to the offices of UN Special Rapporteurs, on behalf of their families. Karapatan …

Rights advocates at the #HRC59 to the PH gov’t: Surface James Jazmines, Felix Salaveria Jr., and all desaparecidos Read More »

Today, families and friends of the disappeared led by Desaparecidos commemorate the 19th year of the disappearance of University of the Philippines activists Karen Empeño and Sherlyn Cadapan, as well as National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) peace consultant Prudencio Calubid, his wife Celina Palma, companions Gloria Soco and Ariel Beloy. Their forcible disappearance …

Surface Karen Empeño, Sherlyn Cadapan, Prudencio Calubid, Celina Palma, Gloria Soco and Ariel Beloy! Read More »

KARAPATAN is in full solidarity with our member organization Bahaghari and the LGBTQ+ community as they launch Stonewall Philippines, a gathering that references the series of militant protests by the gay community in the US triggered by a violent police raid on June 28, 1969 on the Stonewall Inn, then a popular bar in New …

KARAPATAN: Pride is always a Protest Read More »

GENEVA — Rights defenders of the Philippine UPR Watch welcome the opposition of the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) Office of the Prosecutor to former President Rodrigo Duterte’s request for interim release. The Prosecutor’s position underscores what victims and human rights advocates have asserted: Duterte remains a continuing threat to justice, the integrity of the investigation, …

Filipino rights defenders welcome ICC prosecution’s firm stand against Duterte’s release Read More »

GENEVA – Members of the Philippine UPR Watch delegation coming from the National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP) strongly condemned the recent escalation of violence and destruction in the Middle East triggered by the attacks of the United States and Israel on Iran. Bishop Joseph Agpaoa, acting general secretary of the United Church …

Filipino rights defenders condemn US attacks on Iran Read More »

Former Karapatan SOCSKSARGEN chapter deputy secretary general Ali Macalintal, also a former radio broadcaster of RPN XDX, was reportedly shot dead today, June 23, 2025. According to reports by local media, Macalintal was shot several times inside an acupuncture clinic in General Santos City. Macalintal, also a member of the LGBTQIA community, coorganized and participated …

Rights group condemns killing of former Karapatan worker, former radio broadcaster in General Santos City Read More »

A coordinator of Rise Up for Life and for Rights, a group of church workers and families of victims of extrajudicial killings in the “drug war,” expressed support for the recommendation of UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of expression and opinion Irene Khan for the Philippines to return to the International Criminal Court. United Methodist …

Rights defenders at #HRC59 in Geneva: Marcos should heed Special Rapporteur’s calls to return to ICC, ratify convention on enforced disappearances Read More »

The Philippine UPR Watch, a network of faith-based and human rights organizations engaging with the UN Human Rights Council, said that the National Task Force to End the Local Communist Armed Conflict’s (NTF-ELCAC) official statement on the report of Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Opinion Irene Khan is replete with lies. “The NTF-ELCAC’s …

Rights defenders: NTF-ELCAC’s response to Irene Khan replete with lies Read More »