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THE PHILIPPINES: ATTACKS AGAINST LAWYERS FURTHER ESCALATING

23June2021–Attacks against lawyers in the Philippines continue to take place and killings have reached a record high since the start of President Duterte’s administration five years ago. We, the undersigned organizations,express our deep concern overthe attacksandtheoppressive working environment lawyersstill facein the Philippines. We call again on the Duterte Government to adequately protect the safety and independence of lawyers and end the culture of impunity in which these attacks occur.

Increased extrajudicial killings and harassment of lawyers

In our previous statement of 17 September 2019, we signalled that the number and intensity of attacks against lawyers had increased significantly since President Duterte took office on 30 June 2016. At least 46 jurists were extra-judicially killed between July 2016 and 5 September 2019. Among them at least 41 lawyers and prosecutors, of which 24 practicing lawyers. Eight jurists survived attacks on their life.

It is now reported that more lawyers have been killed in the five years since President Duterte took office than under any other government in Philippine history. The number of deaths of lawyers since 2016 has risen to 61. According to the Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG) half of the lawyer killings since 2016 were work-related.The National Union of People’s Lawyers (NUPL) reports that at least 54of the 61 killings are likelyto bework-related. Many other lawyers are facing threats and are afraid that they might be the next victims of attacks.

Lawyers at risk

Lawyers involved in high-profileor human rightscases are especially at risk. These are cases in which they represent victims of human rights violations, government critics, political opposition leaders, human rights defenders,environmental activists, and people who are accused of terrorist-or drug-related crimes.Very often, the rights of the eliteor government policiesare at stake. Examples are cases about land rights of farmers and indigenous peoples, anti-drug operations, and the enforcement of measures to combat the Covid-19 pandemic. Lawyers also face reprisals for participatingin the public debate on legal matters and the protection of human rights.

Culture of Impunity

In a June 2020 report, the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) concluded that ‘persistent impunity for human rights violations is stark’ and ‘practical obstacles to accessing justice are almost insurmountable’. The NUPL reached a similar conclusion: ‘almost all of the perpetrators have never been brought to the bar of justice’. According to NUPL, this climate of impunity emboldens perpetrators to commit further attacks.

Grave implications of public labelling and worrying new laws

Prior to being attacked, an increasing number of lawyers was labelled as “communist” or “terrorist” by state agentsand officials. This labelling takesplaceregardless of actual political beliefs or 2affiliationsof the targeted individuals and isaimed at making them legitimate targets. Following earlier fact finding missions conducted by independent lawyers and judges, the combination of labelling or ‘red-tagging’ and a culture of impunitywas already identifiedas one of the main root causes of extrajudicial killings in the Philippines. This practice continues unabated. OHCHR noted that alongside the intensified campaign against illegal drugs, the government of the Philippines has scaled up its response forcountering terrorism and conflicts.This also has an acute impact on civil society, including lawyers and judicial actors, “particularly through the phenomenon of “red-tagging”. The OHCHR found that “red-tagging” in de Philippines “has been a persistent and powerful threat to civil societyand freedom of expression”, adding that “[S]uch public labelling has proved extremely dangerous”. OHCHR referred to the example of four human rights defenders, including Attys Benjamin Ramos Jr. and Anthony Trinidad,who appearedon posters and hit lists claiming to depict members of alleged terrorists organizations,and were subsequently murdered. Despite national and international concern, the practice of “red-tagging”continues to take place and has also frequently been used by the Duterte administration itself. In a 7 June 2019 press release, eleven UN human rights experts already expressed their concern over this governmental practice andcalledon the UN Human Rights Council to establish an independentinvestigationinto human rights violations committed in the Philippines. “Instead of [the Government] sending a strong message that these killings and harassment are unacceptable, there is a rising rhetoric against independent voices in the country and ongoing intimidation and attacks against voices who are critical of the government, including independent media, human rights defenders, lawyers and journalists,” the experts said.In a July 2020 report, the Human Rights Commission of the Philippines stated that the ‘[P]president through his pronouncements created a dangerous fiction that it is legitimate to hunt down and commit atrocities against human rights defenders because they are enemies of the State’. All this is strengthened by the recently adopted Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 (ATA 2020). Among its provisions is the creation of a government-appointed Anti-Terrorism Council that is given vast powers, including the power to designate individuals and groups as terrorists without due process. Critics and human rights groups have condemned the law for its overbroad definitions, vagueness, and dilution of human rights safeguards, calling it a weapon to target opponents and stifle free speech. A total of 37 petitions were filed to the Supreme Court after the law was enacted. Also lawyers have questioned the law before the Supreme Court, stating that the legislation could be abused to target administration opponents and suppress peaceful dissent. According to the July 2020 reportof the Human Rights Commission of the Philippines, the law “is prone to misuse”. The Commission worries that “the overbroad definition of terrorism gives the government unbridled power to determine who are “suspected terrorists” –which may include ordinary citizens and human rights defenders”. Once people are designated as terrorist they can be arrested and detained without warrants or charges for up to 24 days.

Consequences

The attacks against and extra-judicial killings of lawyers,the impunity shielding perpetrators, the continuous/increasedpractice of ‘red-tagging’, in combination with new laws and amendmentsthat risk eroding constitutional and other legal protections, such as the ATA 2020,impair the ability of lawyers to provide effective legal representation, make lawyersincreasingly waryof working on sensitive cases, and consequently severely undermine the proper functioning of the rule of law and the adequate protection of rights, including the right to remedies and fair trial.

International obligations

According to the United NationsBasic Principles on the Role of Lawyers (Basic Principles)1, States should ensure that all persons within their jurisdiction have effective and equal access to lawyers of their own choosing, and that lawyers are able to perform their professional functions without intimidation, hindrance, harassment or improper interference3. The Basic Principles require that lawyers are adequately protected when their security is threatened because of carrying out their legitimate professional duties, and not be identified with their clients or their clients’ causes. The Basic Principles affirm that lawyers, like other citizens, are entitled to freedom of expression and assembly.6The duty to respect and guarantee these freedoms forms an integral part of the Philippines’ international legal obligations under theInternational Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

Recommendations

In view of the above, the undersigned organizations and individuals urge the Government of the Philippines to:

  1. Investigate promptly, effectively, thoroughly and independently all extrajudicial killingsand attacks against lawyers, and other jurists, with the aim of identifying those responsible and bringing them to justice in proceedings that respect international fair trial standards;.

2. Take all reasonable measures to guarantee the safety and physical integrity of lawyers, including the provision of adequate protection measures, in consultation with the persons concerned;.

3. Create and fully support an independent, credible and impartial body, i.e. not under the control or the influence of the government, composed of members selected exclusively from nominees from lawyers organizations, civil society, the Church and the like in a transparent way, who are known for their human rights record, independency and integrity; this civilian investigative body must be entrusted with the necessary investigative and prosecutorial powers to investigate promptly, impartially and effectively -under international supervisory mandate -all reports and complaints against state security agents with respect to extrajudicial killings, threats and other forms of harassment; the recommendations of this investigative body should beimmediately followed by the government.

4. Consistently condemn all forms of threats and attacks against lawyers publicly, at all political levels and in strong terms; and,

5. Fully comply with and create awareness about the core values underlying the legal profession, amongst others by bringing the UN Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers to the attention of relevant stakeholders, especially members of the executive, police, and the military.

Signatories(in alphabetical order):

AIJA -International Association of Young Lawyers

Amsterdam Bar Association (Netherlands)

ASESORÍA JURÍDICA BOADA

Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC)

Associació Catalana per a la Defensa dels Drets Humans

Avvocati minacciati

Unione camere penali italiane

Bar HumanRights Committee of England and Wales

Burgas Bar Association

Confederation of Lawyers of Asia and the Pacific (COLAP)

Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe (CCBE)

Deutscher Anwaltverein

European Association of Lawyers for Democracy andWorld Human Rights (ELDH)

European Criminal Bar Association

European Democratic Lawyers

Foundation Day of the Endangered Lawyer

Human Rights Embassy (Moldova)

Indian Association of Lawyers

International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI)

International Commission of Jurists

International Observatory of Lawyers in Danger

Law Council of Australia

Law Society of England and Wales

Lawyers for Lawyers

Lawyers’ Rights Watch Canada

Noord-Nederland Bar Association (Netherlands)

Progressive Lawyers Association(Turkey)

Rotterdam Bar Association (Netherlands)

Southern African Human Rights Defenders Network

The Arrested Lawyers Initiative

UIA-IROL (Institute for the Rule of Law of theInternational Association of Lawyers)

Download the full statement

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THE PHILIPPINES: ATTACKS AGAINST LAWYERS ESCALATING

Texte en français

17 September 2019

We, the undersigned organizations, lawyers, and members of the legal profession, express deep concern over the increasing attacks against lawyers in the Philippines and the oppressive working environment they face since the start of President Duterte’s administration. We call on the Duterte Government to adequately protect the safety and independence of lawyers and end the culture of impunity in which these attacks occur.

Extrajudicial killings and harassment of lawyers

Since President Duterte took office on June 30, 2016, the number and intensity of attacks against lawyers have increased significantly. At least 41 lawyers and prosecutors were killed between July 2016 and 5 September 2019, including 24 practicing lawyers. Lawyers are also harassed and intimidated. They are subjected to (death) threats, surveillance, labelling, and other forms of attacks. In addition, at least five judges and retired judges have been murdered since July 2016, bringing the total number of jurists extrajudicially killed in the Philippines to at least 46 in the same period. Eight jurists survived attacks on their life.

Lawyers at risk

Most killings and attacks of lawyers took place as a result of discharging professional duties or are believed to be otherwise work-related. Especially at risk are lawyers representing people accused of terrorist or drug related crimes, or government critics, such as journalists, political opposition leaders, and human rights defenders. Lawyers providing legal representation in high-profile cases impacting established interests, such as land reform, or lawyers taking part in public discussion about human rights issues, also face reprisals.

Grave implications of threats and labelling

United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, recently noted that senior officials of the Government of the Philippines have threatened lawyers and others who have spoken out against the administration’s policies, and she added that this “creates a very real risk of violence against them, and undermines rule of law, as well as the right to freedom expression”.

Prior to being attacked, some lawyers were labelled as “communist” or “terrorist” by state agents. The practice of labelling (i.e. classifying persons as “enemies of the state” or otherwise) combined with the culture of impunity was identified by national and international fact-finding missions as one of the main root causes of extrajudicial killings in the Philippines in the past and continues unabated.

Sharp deterioration of human rights

The attacks against lawyers, prosecutors and members of the judiciary and the extrajudicial killings of other human rights defenders in the Philippines during the past three years have occurred within the context of the so-called war on drugs and are being carried out across the country in an apparent climate of institutional impunity.

Concerned with the sharp deterioration of the human rights situation, eleven UN human rights experts, in a 7 June 2019 press release, called on the UN Human Rights Council to establish an independent investigation into human rights violations committed in the Philippines. “

Culture of Impunity

The UN experts also noted that “the Government has shown no indication that they will step up to fulfil their obligation to conduct prompt and full investigations into these cases, and to hold perpetrators accountable in order to do justice for victims and to prevent reoccurrence

Consequences

The attacks against and extra-judicial killings of lawyers and the impunity shielding perpetrators impair the ability of lawyers to provide effective legal representation, make lawyers increasingly wary of working on sensitive cases, and consequently severely undermine the proper functioning of the rule of law and the adequate protection of rights, including the right to remedies and fair trial.

International obligations

According to the United Nations Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers (Basic Principles), States should ensure that all persons within their jurisdiction have effective and equal access to lawyers of their own choosing, and that lawyers are able to perform their professional functions without intimidation, hindrance, harassment or improper interference. The Basic Principles require that lawyers are adequately protected when their security is threatened because of carrying out their legitimate professional duties, and not be identified with their clients or their clients’ causes. The Basic Principles affirm that lawyers, like other citizens, are entitled to freedom of expression and assembly. The duty to respect and guarantee these freedoms forms an integral part of the Philippines’ international legal obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

Recommendations

In view of the above, the undersigned organizations and individuals urge the Government of the Philippines to:

  1. Investigate promptly, effectively, thoroughly and independently all extrajudicial killings and attacks against lawyers, and other jurists, with the aim of identifying those responsible and bringing them to justice in proceedings that respect international fair trial standards;
  1. Take all reasonable measures to guarantee the safety and physical integrity of lawyers, including the provision of adequate protection measures, in consultation with the persons concerned;
  2. Consistently condemn all forms of threats and attacks against lawyers publicly, at all political levels and in strong terms; and,
  3. Fully comply with and create awareness about the core values underlying the legal profession, amongst others by bringing the UN Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers to the attention of relevant stakeholders, especially members of the executive, police, and the military.

Download the press statement

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PHILIPPINES: ESCALADE DES ATTAQUES CONTRE LES AVOCATS

17 Septembre 2019 –

Nous, les organisations, avocats et membres des professions juridiques soussignés, exprimons notre profonde préoccupation face aux attaques croissantes contre les avocats aux Philippines et à l’environnement de travail oppressif auquel ils sont confrontés depuis le début de l’administration du président Duterte. Nous appelons le gouvernement Duterte à protéger de manière adéquate la sécurité et l’indépendance des avocats et à mettre fin à la culture d’impunité dans laquelle ces attaques se produisent.

Assassinats extrajudiciaires et harcèlement d’avocats

Depuis l’entrée en fonction du président Duterte le 30 juin 2016, le nombre et l’intensité des attaques à l’encontre d’avocats ont considérablement augmenté. Au moins 40 avocats et procureurs ont été tués entre juillet 2016 et le 29 juillet 2019, dont 24 avocats en exercice. Les avocats sont également harcelés et intimidés. Ils sont soumis à des menaces (de mort), à une surveillance, à un étiquetage et à d’autres formes d’attaques. En outre, au moins cinq juges et juges à la retraite ont été assassinés depuis juillet 2016, ce qui porte le nombre total de professionnels du droit tués de manière extrajudiciaire aux Philippines à au moins 46 au cours de la même période. Sept juristes ont survécu à des attaques visant leur vie.

Les avocats en danger

La plupart des assassinats et des attaques contre les avocats ont eu lieu dans le cadre de l’exercice de leurs fonctions professionnelles ou sont apparemment liés à leur profession. Les avocats représentant des personnes accusées de crimes liés au terrorisme ou à la drogue, ou critiquant la politique ou le comportement du gouvernement, tels que les journalistes, les dirigeants de l’opposition politique et les défenseurs des droits de l’homme sont particulièrement exposés. Les avocats assurant une représentation juridique dans des affaires très médiatisées ayant un impact sur des intérêts établis, tels que la réforme agraire, ou les avocats prenant part au débat public sur des questions relatives aux droits de l’homme, sont également victimes de représailles.

Graves implications des menaces et de l’étiquetage

La Haut-Commissaire des Nations Unies aux droits de l’homme, Michelle Bachelet, a récemment noté que de hauts responsables du gouvernement philippin avaient menacé des avocats et d’autres personnes qui s’étaient exprimés contre les politiques de l’administration. Elle a ajouté que cela “crée un risque très réel de violence contre eux et une atteinte à l’État de droit, ainsi qu’au droit à la liberté d’expression ».

Avant d’être agressés, certains avocats ont été qualifiés de « communistes » ou de
« terroristes » par des agents de l’État. La pratique de l’étiquetage (c’est-à-dire la classification des personnes comme « ennemi de l’État » ou similaire) combinée à la culture de l’impunité a été identifiée par les missions d’enquête nationales et internationales comme l’une des principales causes des exécutions extrajudiciaires perpétrées aux Philippines dans le passé et qui continue à exister sans relâche.

Forte détérioration des droits de l’homme

Les attaques contre des avocats, ainsi que des procureurs et des membres du système judiciaire, ainsi que l’assassinat extrajudiciaire d’autres défenseurs des droits de l’homme aux Philippines au cours des trois dernières années se sont déroulés dans le cadre de la

prétendue guerre contre la drogue lancée à travers le pays dans un climat apparent d’impunité institutionnelle.

Préoccupés par la forte détérioration de la situation des droits de l’homme, onze experts des droits de l’homme des Nations Unies ont, dans un communiqué de presse du 7 juin 2019, exhorté le Conseil des droits de l’homme des Nations Unies à ouvrir une enquête indépendante sur les violations des droits de l’homme commises aux Philippines. « Au lieu d’ [le gouvernement] envoyer un message fort que ces assassinats et ce harcèlement sont inacceptables, il y a une rhétorique croissante contre les voix indépendantes dans le pays et des actes d’intimidation et d’attaques continues contre des voix qui critiquent le gouvernement, y compris les médias indépendants, les défenseurs de droits de l’homme, avocats et journalistes “, ont déclaré les experts.

Culture de l’impunité

Les experts des Nations Unies ont également noté que « le gouvernement n’a montré aucun signe indiquant qu’il s’acquitterait de son obligation de mener rapidement des enquêtes approfondies sur ces affaires et de tenir les auteurs présumés responsables afin de rendre justice aux victimes et d’éviter que les violations ne se reproduisent. »

Conséquences

Les attaques et les exécutions extrajudiciaires d’avocats et l’impunité qui protège les auteurs compromettent la capacité des avocats de représenter efficacement leurs clients, ce qui rend les avocats moins enclins à travailler sur des affaires délicates et ce qui porte donc gravement atteinte au bon fonctionnement de l’État de droit, au respect du droit et à la protection adéquate des droits, y compris le droit à un recours et à un procès équitable.

Obligations internationales

Selon les Principes de base des Nations Unies relatifs au rôle du barreau (Principes de base), les États devraient veiller à ce que toutes les personnes relevant de leur juridiction aient un accès effectif et égal aux avocats de leur choix et à ce que ces derniers puissent exercer leurs fonctions professionnelles sans intimidation, entrave, harcèlement ou ingérence indue. Les Principes de base exigent que les avocats soient protégés de manière adéquate lorsque leur sécurité est menacée en raison de l’exercice de leurs obligations professionnelles légitimes, et ne soient pas identifiés à leurs clients ou aux causes de leurs clients. Les Principes de base affirment que les avocats, comme les autres citoyens, ont droit à la liberté d’expression et de réunion. L’obligation de respecter et de garantir ces libertés fait partie intégrante des obligations juridiques internationales des Philippines en vertu du Pacte international relatif aux droits civils et politiques.

Recommandations

Au vu de ce qui précède, les organisations et personnes soussignées exhortent le gouvernement des Philippines à :

  • Enquêter rapidement, efficacement, de manière approfondie et indépendante sur tous les meurtres extrajudiciaires et les attaques contre des avocats et autres juristes, dans le but d’identifier les responsables et de les traduire en justice dans le cadre d’une procédure respectant les normes internationales en matière d’équité des procès.
  • Prendre toutes les mesures raisonnables pour garantir la sécurité et l’intégrité physique des avocats, y compris par la mise en place de mesures de protection appropriées, en consultation avec les personnes concernées.
  • Condamner systématiquement et publiquement toutes les formes de menaces et d’attaques dirigées contre les avocats, à tous les niveaux politiques et avec force, et
  • Respecter pleinement les valeurs fondamentales de la profession juridique et créer une sensibilisation, notamment en attirant l’attention des parties prenantes concernées, en particulier des membres de l’exécutif, de la police et de l’armée, sur les Principes de base des Nations Unies sur le rôle du barreau.

Texte en français

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URGENT : Another Lawyer assassinated in the Philippines

In Solidarity
7 November 2018

Once again, a Philippine colleague has been murdered: Atty. Benjamin Tarug Ramos was shot dead in Kabankalan last night by motorcycle riding men. He died from three gunshot wounds.

This is not the first time. Since 2015, the Association for European Democratic Lawyers (AED) has been denouncing the situation in the Philippines. The cold blooded murder of human rights defenders in the hand of motorcycle mercenarios is unfortunately a recurring theme. In the past, the government has shown no zeal in the investigations.

Atty. Benjamin Tarug Ramos was the Secretary General of the National Union of Philippine Lawyers in the region of Negros, and a well known pro bono lawyer of peasants, environmentalists, activists, political prisoners and mass organizations in Negros.

Any attack against defenders/attorneys for their professional work threatens fundamental and civil rights, and shows the quality of democracy.

To his family, his colleagues and friends goes our solidarity.

To the NUPL, all our support in their fight for a more just and democratic society in the Philippines.

 

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For more information on the NUPL, visit their site.

For more information on human rights abuses of lawyers, please read our letter to the Philippine ambassador 4 years ago

 

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Law Professor retained in The Philippines

The Foundation DAY OF ENDANGERED LAWYER and the AED (European Democratic Lawyers) denounce the inadmissible treatment inflicted by the Philippine authorities on the Australian law professor Gill Boehringer, a fervent defender of human rights and minorities in the Philippines.

 

The 8th of August upon arrival in Manila to join his wife of Philippine nationality, he has been refused entry into the territory. He is under detention and retained at the moment, attending repatriation.

 

According to statements of the immigration office, Gill Boehringer is allegedly on their blacklist of activists because he participated in the rallies of 2015 in support of indigenous people, the Lumads of Mindanao Island (Philippines), who have been fighting for 25 years against the Tampakan mining project.

 

In the Philippines, participating in such gatherings is illegal for a foreigner and considered a breach of the public order and security of the country.

 

Gill Boehringer contends the charges against him, but according to his lawyer, he still has not had access to his case or has been in any way able to argue (see ABS-CBS News, 9.08.2918)

 

His health is matter of concern. The doctor who examined him has recommended he does not fly back so quickly.

 

On the 13th of August, Gill Boerhinher is still not free.

 

The Foundation DAY OF ENDENGERED LAWYER and the AED (European Democratic Lawyers) strongly condemn the inhuman and degrading treatment suffered by Professor Boehringer for his fight for the defense of human rights and calls into question a serious violation of freedom of expression and circulation and a clear violation of the rights of the defense.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Report: The Day of the Endangered Lawyer 2015

On January 23rd 2015, on the occasion of the 5th International Day of the Endangered Lawyer, rallies were held outside embassies and consulates of the Philippines in many European capitals and cities (Adana, Ankara, Alanya, Antalya, Anvers, Barcelona, Berlin, Brussels, Düsseldorf, Essen, Ginebra, The Hague, Istanbul, Izmir, London, Madrid, Manila, Milan, Paris, Rome and Vienna).

Img-end.lawyer

These demonstrations aim at supporting Filipino lawyers, victims of severe persecution and killings without due justice.

Read the full report in English, French, or Spanish

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DAY OF THE ENDANGERED LAWYER – 23rd January 2015

PRESS RELEASE

Lawyers under Death Threat in the Philippines

Lawyers all over Europe protest this day in Ankara, Athens, Barcelona, Berlin, Bern, Bilbao, Brussels, Düsseldorf, The Hague, Istanbul, Izmir, London, Madrid, Manila, Milan, Paris, Rome and Vienna. This year the Day of the endangered Lawyer is focussed on lawyers in the Philippines who are murdered and who receive death threats because they defend the rights of the poorest, and who work on cases of human rights violations.

The reported total number of lawyers that have been killed after 2001 is 41, nine (22%) of whom were directly involved in handling human rights cases or issues. On top of this, 57 lawyers have been threatened, harassed, intimidated, surveilled, labelled and attacked in other forms, a sizable 43 (76%) of whom were directly involved in human rights cases or advocacies. In addition, 18 judges have been murdered since 2001. Of the known perpetrators recorded, 65% were identified to be members of the military while 20% were from the police service. More than half, however, of all attacks have no known perpetrator to date.

Among the lawyers who have been killed recently are: Rudolfo Felicio, Noel D. Archival, John Mark Espera, Ian Vela Cruz, Jubian Achas, Sulpicio Landicho, Lazaro Gayo, Christobal Fernandez. (For more details read the Basic Report on the human rights lawyers under continuing threat in the Philippines http://www.eldh.eu/fileadmin/user_upload/ejdm/events/2014/Basic_report_for_the_Day_of_the_Endangered_ Lawyer_2015.pdf

In the past there has been international pressure on the Philippine government to address the issue, to make important steps to prosecute the perpetrators and to stop the situation of impunity. But in the last year the situation has again deteriorated. The documented reports about the killings and attacks on Philippine lawyers and also judges show an increasing number of killings, harassments and other attacks on the profession. Only very scarcely a perpetrator is arrested and nearly never prosecuted or punished by the courts. The government of the Philippines is criticized from many quarters about this poor result.

For the endangered lawyers, their families, the victims of the killings and other different forms of attacks, it is unacceptable that the State does not take the full responsibility to act according to the rule of law and to make all necessary steps to fulfill its human rights obligations and legal and ethical duties.

Four years after 30 June 2010, the day that Benigno Aquino III succeeded Gloria Arroyo as President, we have to draw the very sad conclusion that President Aquino’s promises – not to tolerate extrajudicial killings and forced disappearances, and to prioritise the judicial reform and the strengthening of the judicial system – seem to have been hollow promises, as far it is shown by all the new attacks and killings that have victimized also members of the legal profession which have occurred after 2010, in the last four years. Only in the case of the murder of the judge Reynerio Estacio Senior on 28 February 2014 in Tugbungan village there was a suspected gunman arrested. This judge handled politically sensitive cases including cases about policemen and politicians.

For these reasons three European lawyers associations the EUROPEAN DEMOCRATIC LAWYERS (AED- EDL, www.aed-edl.net ), the EUROPEAN ASSOCIATION OF LAWYERS FOR DEMOCRACY & WORLD HUMAN RIGHTS (ELDH, www.eldh.eu ) and the EUROPEAN BAR HUMAN RIGHTS INSTITUTE (IDHAE, www.idhae.org ), which together represent lawyer’s associations all over Europe, have decided to promote greater public awareness of the severe situation of lawyers in the Philippines on the Day of the Endangered

Organized by:

  •   European Democratic Lawyers (AED-EDL), Rue Albert Ier, 236, 6240 Farciennes, Belgium, http://www.aeud.org/
  •  European Association of Lawyers for Democracy and World Human Rights (ELDH), Platanenstrasse 13, 40233 – Düsseldorf,Germany, www.eldh.eu
  •  European Bar Human Rights Institute (IDHAE), 4-6, rue de la Boucherie, L – 2012 Luxembourg, idhae@idhae.orgSupported by:
  •   International Association of Democratic Lawyers (IADL), www.iadllaw.org
  •   NationalUnion of Peoples’Lawyers (NUPL) in the Philippines, http://www.nupl.net/
  •  Lawyers for Lawyers in Holland, http://www.advocatenvooradvocaten.nl

2

Lawyer. Therefore lawyers in different European countries will protest in front of Philippine Embassies, Consulates or other institutions.

The Day of the Endangered Lawyer is an initiative which was started by AED-EDL in 2010, on behalf of the lawyers of Iran. The date of 24 January was chosen in remembrance of the assassination of 4 trade union lawyers and one employee in the Atocha Street in Madrid in 1977 (Massacre of Atocha), in the time of transition after the death of the Spanish dictator Franco (in 1975). The perpetrators arrested were close to far- right parties and organisations.

AED-EDL, ELDH and IDHAE condemn in the strongest possible terms the above mentioned actions against lawyers and demand the following from the Government of the Philippines:

• Appropriate measures to guarantee safety for legal practitioners, as provided in the United Nations Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers

  • to recognise publicly the legitimacy of the work done by human rights defenders, including lawyers
  • to put an end to the impunity tolerated by the State for those who violate human rights
  • to take measures to sanction public servants and politicians who stigmatise them
  • The immediate release of all lawyers detained, investigated, and imprisoned as a result of their professional dutiesThey further demand an international independent investigation into the actions noted above with the objective of holding those accountable who are responsible for violations of basic human rights of lawyers.

    

    Prof. Bill Bowring, barrister, President of ELDH, London, England www.eldh.eu
    Frédéric Ureel, barrister, President of AED-EDL, Farcienne, Belgium www.aed-edl.net

    Bertrand Favreau, , President of IDHAE, Paris, France www.idhae.org

    Thomas Schmidt, solicitor, Secretary General of ELDH, Düsseldorf, PHONE 0049-211-444 001 endangered-lawyers@eldh.eu
    Hans Gaasbeek, barrister, Vice President of AED, Haarlem, 0031 6 52055043, hgaasbeek@gaasbeekengaasbeek.nl, Director of the Foundation of the Day of the Endangered Lawyer
    Gorka Vellé Bergado, Mr. Alejandro Gamez Selma, barristers, Coordinators of the Commission Defence of the Defence, European Democratic Lawyers (EDL), gorka_velle@yahoo.es

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For more information, please contact:

Mr. Hans Gaasbeek (see above) Mr. Thomas Schmidt (see above)



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Letter to the Philippine Ambassador in France

SYNDICAT DES AVOCATS DE FRANCE

Le président

 

Madame l’Ambassadeur,

Le Syndicat des Avocats de France, membre de l’organisation européenne AED (Avocats Européens Démocrates), a été alerté sur la situation de nos confrères philippins qui n’a cessé de se dégrader malgré plusieurs alertes internationales.

Le nombre d’agressions et d’assassinats d’avocats philippins n’a cessé d’augmenter, sans que l’état ne semble s’en préoccuper.

Depuis 2001, 41 avocats ont été assassinés et 57 ont été sévèrement maltraités. La plupart d’entre eux étaient engagés dans la défense des droits fondamentaux et des droits de l’homme. Tous ont subi ces horreurs en raison de leur engagement professionnel. Ceci est inacceptable et l’est d’autant plus qu’il apparaît que les forces militaires ou de police ne sont pas étrangères à ces crimes.

Vous comprendrez, dans ces conditions, notre émotion et l’appel solennel que nous souhaitons adresser à votre gouvernement, par votre intermédiaire, pour que de tels actes cessent et que les coupables soient jugés.

Nous vous informons donc que, le vendredi 23 janvier 2015 à 11 heures, à l’occasion de la journée de l’avocat menacé, trois associations européennes d’avocats : l’association des Avocats Européens Démocrates (A.E.D.), l’Association Européenne des Juristes pour la Démocratie et les Droits de l’Homme (E.L.D.H.) et l’Institut des Droits de l’Homme des Avocats Européens (I.D.H.A.E.) organisent un rassemblement devant l’ambassade des Philippines en France, afin d’attirer l’attention sur la grave situation des avocats philippins, victimes d’intimidations, d’arrestations, de violences et d’assassinats.

Nous souhaitons que vous puissiez à cette occasion accorder une audience à une délégation de plusieurs avocats membres de ces associations, afin de vous remettre une pétition adressée à M. le Président de la République des Philippines BENIGNO AQUINO III, à Mme la ministre de la Justice, à M. le ministre de l’Intérieur et aux autres membres du gouvernement de la République des Philippines.

Vous remerciant par avance de l’accueil que vous voudrez bien nous réserver,

Nous vous prions de croire, Madame l’Ambassadeur, à l’assurance de notre haute considération.

Pour l’A.E.D., Didier LIGER, avocat, représentant du Syndicat des Avocats de France à l’A.E.D. Pour l’IDHAE, Christophe PETTITI, avocat, secrétaire général
Pour le S.A.F., Florian BORG, avocat, président

SAF 34, rue St Lazare 75009 PARIS Tél. 01 42 82 01 26

saforg@orange.fr

à:

Madame Theresa P. LAZARO Ambassadeur des Philippines 4, Hameau de Boulainvilliers 45, Rue du Ranelagh

75016 Paris

Par courrier postal
Par télécopie : 01 46 47 56 00 Et par courriel : paris.pe@dfa.gov.ph

 

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Lawyers in the Philippines

Malaga, 27th January 2007

The European Democratic Lawyers have been informed of the dramatic situation of lawyers and judges in the Philippines during their General Assembly in Malaga on Saturday, the 27th of January 2007.

Since the year 2001, 17 lawyers and 11 judges have been murdered. Most of them were engaged in the fight for the respect of Human Rights. Today, many other live under threat.

The EDL demand of the government of the Philippines and of national and international institutions to:

1. Publicly condemn the murders and threats in resolute terms.

2. Take action immediately to protect the security of lawyers, judges and all those engaged in support of Human Rights.

3. The demanded measures imply pursuing the presumed authors, even if the forces of state security were involved

4. Constitute and give support to an independent commission, not controlled by the government, in charge of investigating the murders, threats and harassments. The recommendations of this commission should be followed.

5. Take all necessary measures to end the culture of impunity and to restore the confidence of the people in the functioning of a constitutional state and the rule of law.