UN Urges Marcos Jr. to End Philippines' 'War on Drugs' Amid Rights Concerns

The United Nations has called on Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to end the country's controversial "war on drugs," urging his administration to adopt policies firmly grounded in human rights rather than punitive measures.

In a statement released this week, the UN emphasized the need to halt what it described as a "war on people," which has drawn widespread international criticism for alleged human rights abuses. The appeal comes despite Marcos Jr.'s pledge to improve human rights conditions since taking office in July 2022.

Marcos Jr. has publicly condemned the violent tactics used under his predecessor, former President Rodrigo Duterte, acknowledging that "there were abuses by certain elements of government" in the anti-drug campaign. However, his government has yet to dismantle the policy, which was launched in 2016 shortly after Duterte assumed office.

Human rights organizations have criticized the continued enforcement of the drug war, noting that thousands of people—many of them suspected drug users, dealers, or low-level offenders—have been killed in police operations or vigilante-style shootings. According to government data, over 6,000 deaths were recorded in anti-drug operations, though human rights groups and independent monitors suggest the actual number can be far higher.

A report by the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) documented at least 8,663 drug-related killings in 2020 alone. Independent monitoring by the Dahas Project of the University of the Philippines’ Third World Studies Center recorded 342 drug-related deaths from July 1, 2022, to June 20, 2023, including 115 killed in anti-drug operations involving state agents.

In a symbolic move earlier this year, Marcos Jr. requested the resignation of 300 police officers amid allegations of corruption within the Philippine National Police (PNP), which has led the drug war. However, critics argue that the measure lacks genuine accountability. Carlos Conde, a senior researcher at Human Rights Watch’s Asia Division, described the resignations as "for show," noting that each officer would be individually reviewed before any action is taken.

The drug war has faced legal and political challenges, including the recent dismissal of two drug cases against Leila de Lima, a former senator and prominent critic of Duterte’s campaign. De Lima spent six years in detention without conviction, and a third case remains pending. Human rights groups, including Amnesty International, have condemned her imprisonment, calling for her immediate release. Rachel Chhoa-Howard, a Southeast Asia researcher for Amnesty International, stated, "De Lima should never have spent a day in prison, but instead, she’s languished there for six years."

Meanwhile, the International Criminal Court (ICC) has continued its investigation into alleged crimes against humanity committed during Duterte’s drug war, despite the Philippines’ withdrawal from the Rome Statute in 2019. In January 2023, the ICC ruled that the Philippine government’s investigation was inadequate, and on July 18, it dismissed the country’s appeal, announcing it would "resume the investigation." The Philippines has since stated it will "disengage" from communicating with the ICC and will not execute any arrest warrants issued by the court.

Critics argue that Marcos Jr.’s refusal to rejoin the ICC and his administration’s mixed signals on accountability undermine efforts to address human rights violations tied to the drug war. As the government maintains its anti-drug operations, international and domestic pressure continues to mount for a fundamental shift toward policies that prioritize human rights over punitive measures.