Iceland calls out United Nations body to further investigate Duterte's policy regarding drug war

Does the Philippines have a misunderstanding with Iceland?

In the opening of the 37th session of the Human Rights Council (HRC) in Geneva, Switzerland, Iceland’s foreign minister Gudlaugur Thór Thórdarson called and even urged the United Nation’s Human Rights Council to take further in depth investigations as regards the human rights violations in the country.

This was done in his speech in the opening of the session of the Human Rights Council (HRC) in Geneva, and this was brought about by the perceived brutal war declared against illegal drugs by the Duterte administration.  *



Icelandic Foreign Minister Gudlaugur Thor Thordarson (photo credit to owner)

Iceland’s foreign minister Gudlaugur Thór Thórdarson speech in opening the 37^th session was pleased and welcomed the International Criminal Court’s earlier announcement that it would conduct a preliminary examination into killings linked to the Duterte’s war against illegal drugs but challenged the ICC to do more.

“This is an important development but it does not take the responsibility away from this body to fulfill its duty to monitor, investigate and to deliberate and take further steps including a more formal Council initiative, if the need arises, to try and assure the Philippines meets its human rights obligations,” the foreign minister said.

The Philippines, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Venezuela, and Egypt are all members of the United Nations Human Rights Council and all four governments are accused of human rights violations.

The Republic of the Philippines was elected a member of the HRC on October 28, 2015. Its term will expire this year.

“States which join the Council should lead by example and expect their own human rights record to be subject to particular scrutiny during their time as members," said Thórdarson.

"If the HRC does not hold its own members to account to ensure that they uphold the highest standards in the promotion of protection of human rights then who will?” Thórdarson added.   *

Last year 38 countries (including Iceland), called the attention to the killings in the Philippines and criticized the Duterte administration for its so called “climate of impunity” associated with its implementation on its war against illegal drugs.

Report from ABS CBN News