This archive report was first published on 17 July 2019.
On July 17, 2019, the United Nations Human Rights Council voted 18-14 to investigate the Philippines' brutal anti-drug crackdown, prompting President Rodrigo Duterte to consider cutting diplomatic ties with Iceland.
The resolution, which cites extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrests, and disappearances since Duterte launched his campaign in 2016, has sparked a heated reaction from the Philippine government.
Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo described the resolution as a reflection of the 'scornful' attitude of Western powers towards the Philippines' efforts to protect its people.
Duterte has a history of reacting angrily to international criticism of his anti-drug campaign, which has resulted in the deaths of thousands of people. In 2019, he withdrew the Philippines from the International Criminal Court after prosecutors announced a preliminary examination of crimes against humanity.
While the Philippine government claims that around 6,600 people have been killed by police in shootouts with drug dealers, local activists estimate that the actual number of deaths is much higher, at around 27,000.
