Global executions hit their highest figure since 2015, as over 1,500 people were executed across 15 countries in 2024, said Amnesty International today as it released its annual report on the global use of the death penalty.
*Names changed to protect identity
This report is the result of the collective work of young Filipino human rights defenders.
On 6 February 2025, United States President Donald Trump issued an Executive Order authorizing sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC) and its Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan. This Executive Order is intended to stop the ICC from undertaking its independent mandate. It also poses a significant threat to the ICC and its staff. UN experts strongly condemned the move, calling it “an attack on global rule of law” that undermines international justice.
Responding to former Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte’s scheduled first appearance at the International Criminal Court, Amnesty International’s Southeast Asia Researcher Rachel Chhoa-Howard said:
Responding to news that former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has been arrested by Philippine authorities on the basis of an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) against him for the crime against humanity of murder in relation to killings in the “war on drugs”, Agnes Callamard, Secretary General of Amnesty International, said:
Amnesty International is deeply concerned about the increasing misuse of counter-terrorism laws by the Philippine government to crack down on development, humanitarian and human rights organizations. The administration of President Bongbong Marcos Jr must put an end to the targeting of these organizations with problematic laws such as the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 and the Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act of 2012. The government must create an enabling environment for them to be able to carry out their activities without fear of reprisal. The government must also end the deadly practice of red-tagging; as a first step, it should dismantle the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict that has been leading and perpetrating this practice.
Responding to news about the arrest and detention of Lejun Dela Cruz, Magsasaka political nominee and activist , Jepie Papa, Amnesty International Philippines Acting Director said:
The Philippines Coalition for the International Criminal Court (PCICC) responding to the news that the Philippines Government though the Depeartment of Justice (DOJ) is open to limiited cooperation with the International Criminal Court (ICC) into alleged crimes against humanity committed under the “war on drugs”, Dr. Aurora Parong, Co-Chairperson and Spokesperson of PCICC said:”The openness of the Department of Justice to talk with the ICC and look at possible areas of cooperation for justice is long overdue. This should be fast tracked towards complete Philippine cooperation with the ICC for the sake of the victims and their families. Justice must be delivered both in the Philippines and at the international level. We hope the possibility of US sanctions against the ICC will not affect the effort to deliver justice here and at the ICC.
On the day of the U.S. presidential inauguration, Amnesty International calls on President Donald Trump and his administration to respect human rights obligations in all their policies and governing approaches.
The climate crisis threatens the enjoyment of civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights of present and future generations, and ultimately, the future of humanity. It is critical that the world transitions away from the use and production of fossil fuels to renewable energy sources to address the climate crisis.
Responding to the release of Dorgelesse Nguessan, a single mother and hairdresser arbitrarily arrested in 2020 for participating in a peaceful protest, Marceau Sivieude, Amnesty International’s interim Regional Director for West and Central Africa, said: