Ateneo Human Rights Center

DRUG WAR RETOLD

The Ateneo Human Rights Center attended the advance screening of Drug War: A Conspiracy of Silence in partnership with Lunchbox PH at Cinema 76 in Quezon City on August 19.

The crime drama draws inspiration from the consequential events in Duterte's administration where the war on drugs was implemented.

During an advance screening, director Shugo Praico highlighted the importance of revisiting the stories of the victims without downplaying the severity of the human rights violations committed by the administration.

"We want to reach as many people as possible. We want them to realize that these kind of things do happen and that it could also happen to any of us,” Praico said.

The Ateneo Human Rights Center is also one with DEKADA, a collective campaign of more than 20 organizations, individuals, and other human rights defenders in memorializing victims, their families, and the incidents that transpired during and after Duterte’s war on drugs campaign.

Drug War: A Conspiracy of Silence can be streamed online on YouTube for free. New episodes air every Thursday, 8PM.

Bilang mambabatas, kinondena niya ang mga pang-aabuso ng militar at pulisya, pati na rin ang paggamit ng terorismo at karahasan laban sa mga sibilyan.

Sa kabila ng kanyang mga kontribusyon, mahalaga ring alalahanin natin na ang kanyang pagkamatay ay isa sa mga pinakakontrobersyal na kaso ng paglabag sa karapatang pantao sa Pilipinas.

Ngayong ika-21 ng Agosto, ginugunita natin ang naging papel ni Ninoy Aquino upang makamit natin ang demokrasya sa bansa.

na!

Isang linggo matapos ang pagdiriwang ng International Youth Day, sumulyap sa estado ng kabataan at mga isyung kinakaharap nila ngayon.

Mga Sanggunian:

AXA. (2026). AXA Mind Health Report 2026.https://www-axa-com.cdn.prismic.io/www-axa-com/ah6dqAeQX7-eWiOH_axa_mind_health_report_2026_va.pdf
National Youth Commission. (2025). Youth statistics update. https://datastudio.google.com/embed/u/0/reporting/accce7a7-ff78-45bb-a71b-f997d6181568/page/p_uanryid4hd
Puyat, J. H., Salvador, D. L., Tuazon, A. C., & Afable, S. D. (2025). Rising prevalence of depression and widening sociodemographic disparities in depressive symptoms among Filipino youth: findings from two large nationwide cross-sectional surveys. Cambridge Prisms: Global Mental Health, 12, e51. doi:10.1017/gmh.2025.39
Southeast Asia Primary Learning Metrics, Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization, & UNICEF. (2024). SEA-PLM 2024 main regional report summary: Children’s learning in 6 Southeast Asian countries (1st ed.).
United Nations. (n.d.). International Youth Day.
Yu, L. S. (2026, August 6). Unemployment rises slightly to 4.9% as fresh grads struggle to find jobs. Rappler.

𝗣𝗮𝗵𝗮𝘆𝗮𝗴 𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗥𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗡𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝘀𝗮 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗵𝗲𝗱𝘆𝗮 𝘀𝗮 𝗔𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗼 𝗱𝗲 𝗭𝗮𝗺𝗯𝗼𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗮, 𝟭𝟴 𝗔𝘂𝗴 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲

Taos-puso kaming nakikiramay sa mga pamilyang nawalan ng mahal sa buhay sa trahedyang naganap sa Ateneo de Zamboanga University. Kaisa rin kami sa pananalangin para sa paggaling ng mga nasaktan at sa paghilom ng buong komunidad. Nawa’y matagpuan ng mga naulila ang lakas at pag-asa sa gitna ng matinding dalamhati.

Habang nagpapatuloy ang opisyal na imbestigasyon, hinihikayat ang lahat na huwag magbahagi ng sensitibong mga larawan at video, hindi beripikadong impormasyon, o anumang haka-haka. Igalang natin ang privacy at dignidad ng mga biktima at kanilang pamilya, at sumangguni lamang sa mga opisyal at mapagkakatiwalaang pahayag.

Ang mga paaralan ay dapat maging ligtas na espasyo para sa lahat ng bata at kabataan. Nananawagan kami para sa mabilis, patas, at sensitibong imbestigasyon, sapat na psychosocial support sa mga apektado, at responsableng pagbabahagi ng impormasyon. Sa gitna ng dalamhati, pairalin natin ang malasakit, pananagutan, at pagkakaisa upang mapanatiling ligtas ang bawat bata. # # #

[Repost from DEKADA]

Join us for Tao Po, an interactive multi-format storytelling and fundraising event that highlights personal narratives, critical insights, and calls for accountability of documentarists and drug war victims’ families 10 years after former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte launched the nationwide killing campaign. Through archival images, film, and intimate conversations, this activity discusses the targeted communities’ journey from their lived encounters of violence in the streets and their houses in Manila to the current battle for justice in the International Criminal Court at The Hague.

The event features a visual and interactive talk with photographer Raffy Lerma, a screening of the highly-acclaimed documentary Aswang directed by Alyx A, and a multidisciplinary panel conversation with families and advocates fighting for justice and harm reduction.

Tao Po is happening on August 22, 2026, Saturday, 5 pm onwards at Co.lab Cafe. Each ticket costs PhP 500.00 with 1 drink free. Proceeds will be used to support the families left behind by the drug war.

Registration is required given the limited slots. Sign up via the QR code or bit.ly/dekadataopo.

This event is brought to you by DEKADA in partnership with Co.lab Cafe and DAKILA.

Posters by

Today, we celebrate the 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝'𝐬 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐏𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐬, and the 𝟏𝟏𝐭𝐡 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐏𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐃𝐚𝐲 (𝐍𝐈𝐏𝐃).

In celebrating the strength of their spirit and the unparalleled beauty of their culture, we are called to remember their stories—the ones that are consistently being silenced by the very institutions that promised to protect them. To this day, our Indigenous communities continue to fight for their land, their people, and their future, as they are met with injustices—named and unnamed—at every turn.

In truth, beyond the recognition of their own struggles lies a reality that we often miss: their burden does not end with the systemic oppression attached to their Indigenous identities. They are women who fight for gender equality. They are youth who hope for quality education. They are workers who demand for better wages and working conditions. These are challenges that they continue to face on top of the weight they were already made to carry as a marginalized group.

𝗠𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝘂𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗲. We continue to fight alongside them until every Indigenous community’s rights are recognized and upheld. Today, we stand with them as they commemorate the names of ancestors, sing the songs of their elders, and tell the tales of the mountains and the seas to their youth. Today, we say a prayer for our Indigenous brothers and sisters who keep the flame alive—never forgetting who they are as a community.






Photo Courtesy of:

Ateneo Human Rights Center

Artemio Dumlao. 𝘐𝘗 𝘷𝘰𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘭𝘰𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘊𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘳𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘭𝘴 𝘸𝘦𝘢𝘬 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘺𝘦 𝘭𝘢𝘸 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘨𝘯𝘪𝘻𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴, Philstar, September 12, 2019, 𝘢𝘷𝘢𝘪𝘭𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘢𝘵 https://www.philstar.com/nation/2019/09/12/1951228/ip-voice-local-cordillera-councils-weak-despite-law-recognizing-their-rights (last accessed Aug. 9, 2026)

Danilo Doguiles. 𝘓𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘐𝘗 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘩: 𝘓𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴, Philippine Information Agency, October 29, 2024, 𝘢𝘷𝘢𝘪𝘭𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘢𝘵 https://pia.gov.ph/news/leader-to-fellow-ip-youth-learn-to-play-traditional-instruments/ (last accessed Aug. 9, 2026)

Journal Online. 𝘍𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘬, 𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘱𝘴: "𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘰𝘤𝘦𝘢𝘯𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘥𝘴", Journal Online. June 8, 2026, 𝘢𝘷𝘢𝘪𝘭𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘢𝘵 https://journal.com.ph/fisherfolk-green-groups-protect-oceans-to-protect-food-security-and-livelihoods/ (last accessed Aug. 9, 2026)

Kilab Multimedia. 𝘐𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘸𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘞𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯'𝘴 𝘋𝘢𝘺 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘷𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘵 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴, Davao Today, March 4, 2020, 𝘢𝘷𝘢𝘪𝘭𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘢𝘵 https://davaotoday.com/human-rights/indigenous-women-commemorate-womens-day-with-vow-to-assert-rights/ (last accessed Aug. 9, 2026)

Sun Star. 𝘋𝘢𝘷𝘢𝘰 𝘊𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘱𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘗𝘏'𝘴 1𝘴𝘵 𝘐𝘗 𝘛𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘊𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘭, 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘩 𝘥𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘱𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵, Sun Star Digital, November 12, 2025, 𝘢𝘷𝘢𝘪𝘭𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘢𝘵 https://www.sunstar.com.ph/davao/davao-city-pioneers-phs-1st-ip-teen-center-for-cultural-youth-development (last accessed Aug. 9, 2026)

WELCOME HOME, BATCH SADLAW! ☀️

The Ateneo Human Rights Center has welcomed its newest batch of interns, Sadlaw, during the Summer Internship Program (SIP) 2026.

Comprised of 15 law students, Batch Sadlaw is the third contingent of AHRC interns to assist the Calamian Tagbanwa of the Chindunan-Alulad-Lamud-Marabal (CALM) Ancestral Domain in Culion, Palawan in their decades-long application for Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title (CADT).

Moreover, the resident interns have immersed themselves in Palawan and in various legal resource non-government organizations (NGOs), including the Tanggapang Panligal ng Katutubong Pilipino (PANLIPI), Legal Resource Center (LRC), Humanitarian Legal Assistance Foundation, Inc. (HLAF), Children's Legal Rights and Development Center (CLRDC), and the Environmental Legal Assistance Center (ELAC).

Drawing inspiration from the pockets of light they found in their island communities and the hope promised by the break of dawn, Batch Sadlaw continues on in their journey as they commit to learn the law and serve the people.

Noong Hulyo 2016, nagsimula ang kampanyang nagbukas sa malawakang paglabag sa karapatang pantao. Sa unang buwan pa lamang ng Oplan Tokhang, mabilis nang dumami ang mga pagpatay na ikinatwiran sa linyang "nanlaban." Binalot nito sa takot ang mga maralitang komunidad na pangunahing binibiktima ng kampanya.

Sa paglipas ng mga taon, pinatibay ng madugong operasyon ang culture of impunity. Hanggang ngayon, libu-libong pamilya ang nananatili at naghihintay ng katotohanan at hustisya para sa kanilang mga mahal sa buhay na pinagkaitan ng karapatang mabuhay at ng makatarungang paglilitis.

Isang na ang lumipas, ngunit hindi tayo magpapatinag. Narito ang mga kaganapan sa unang buwan ng implementasyon ng Oplan Tokhang at ang pag-usad ng kaso patungo sa nalalapit na pagbubukas ng trial ni dating Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte.

Ngayong National Disaster Resilience Month, mahalagang kilalanin na hindi pantay ang epekto ng mga kalamidad. Pinakamabigat itong pasan ng mga kabataang nahaharap sa kahirapan at kawalan ng sapat na serbisyong panlipunan.

Labas sa simpleng paghahanda, ang usapin ng disaster resilience ay siya ring usapin ng karapatang pantao. Mula sa karapatan sa buhay, edukasyon, at kalusugan hanggang sa karapatang makilahok sa mga desisyong nakaaapekto sa kanilang kinabukasan, nararapat na kilalanin ang mga kabataan bilang mga aktibong tagapagtaguyod ng katatagan ng kanilang mga komunidad, hindi lamang mga biktima ng sakuna.

Basahin ngayong kung paano pinalalala ng kahirapan, korapsyon, at kakulangan sa serbisyong panlipunan ang bulnerabilidad ng mga kabataan sa mga kalamidad, at bakit mahalaga ang kanilang aktibong pakikilahok sa paghubog ng mas ligtas at mas makatarungang mga komunidad.