Overview of Human Rights in Philippines

Recent elections in the Republic of the Philippines have been a source of contention for the nation. Among charges of election fraud and corruption, the political opposition has been calling for President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to be impeached.

Politics aside, the human rights situation in the Philippines is fair, but with serious cases of abuse. Variables such as official impunity, wide income disparities between the wealthy and poor, poverty, high levels of unemployment, and weaknesses in the rule of law, all negatively affect the ability to vastly improve the situation.

Police and security forces in the Philippines often arbitrarily arrest and detain suspects. Torture and other physical and psychological abuse of suspects and detainees often occur. Unlawful and extrajudicial killings of journalists, political opponents of the government, and other public figures occur at the behest of the government. Disappearances and kidnappings for ransom also are problems. Prison conditions are harsh. Overcrowding is a serious problem.

Vigilante justice, including murder, is also committed against suspected criminals. Many of these vigilantes are supposedly linked to government officials and the Philippine National Police (PNP).

The New People’s Army (NPA), the military branch of the communist insurgency in the Philippines, continues to commit human rights violations; political killings, torture of prisoners, and kidnappings are done throughout the nation. Violent clashes between the government and some militant Islamic groups continue. The Abu Sayyaf Group have bombed civilian targets in the nation.

Societal discrimination against Muslims, child abuse, child prostitution, child labor, and human trafficking are all areas of concern in the region.

Human Development Index (HDI) Rank:

84th out of 177

Note: Human Development Index (HDI) is a composite index that measures the level of well-being of nations in the world. It uses factors such as poverty, literacy, life-expectancy, education, gross domestic product, and purchasing power parity to assess the average achievements in each nation. It has been used in the United Nation’s Human Development Report since 1993.