UNITED NATIONS SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON THE SITUATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS

The Task Force Detainees of the Philippines (TFDP) welcomes the report of Ms. Mary Lawlor, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights Defenders (HRDs), on the contributions of HRDs in addressing climate change and achieving a just transition.

The report highlights that despite the risks faced by HRDs all over the world, they continue to face the challenges brought about by the climate crisis. Unfortunately, the same could not be said with States. In the report’s introduction, Ms. Lawlor mentioned:

Almost nowhere is this reality [climate crisis] being met by States with the necessary response. This is despite States’ legal obligations under the Paris Agreement, which in its preamble makes the link between climate change and human rights clear, stating:

“Parties should, when taking action to address climate change, respect, promote and consider their respective obligations on human rights, the right to health, the rights of Indigenous Peoples, local communities, migrants, children, persons with disabilities and people in vulnerable situations and the right to development, as well as gender equality, empowerment of women and intergenerational equity.” (Paris Agreement under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change)

Worse, human rights violations are perpetrated against climate justice HRDs. TFDP has documented such cases nationwide, one of which was against the Philippine Movement for Climate Justice (PMCJ) in Cebu which was included in the Special Rapporteur’s report.

“In a further concerning trend, human rights defenders calling for greater government action on climate change and a just transition have been reportedly subjected to surveillance. In the Philippines, members of the Philippine Movement for Climate Justice in Cebu Island have experienced several incidents of suspected surveillance since March 2024.” (Tipping points: human rights defenders, climate change and a just transition (Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders), paragraph 78, page 18/24)

It is the government’s obligation to respect, protect, and fulfill the rights of its peoples. The surveillance, continued harassment, and other forms of violations against HRDs clearly go against these obligations. At the same time, the government’s inaction on the worsening climate crisis that impacts its people, most especially those belonging to the vulnerable sectors, is failure on the government’s part to protect its people.

It is high time that the government recognizes the climate crisis, declare a climate emergency, implement evidence-, scientific-, and human rights-based approaches in addressing this problem. This should be the government’s priority. Human rights violations and attacks against those fighting for climate justice and all HRDs must be put to an end.

Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, Mary Lawlor: https://bit.ly/HRDsAndClimateChange