ORAL STATEMENT
Humanists International
UN Human Rights Council, 59th session (16th June – 9 July 2025)
Item 3: Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapportuer on Freedom of Expression
Speaker: Sherwin Dane Haro
Thank you Mr. President,
I make this statement on behalf of Humanists Alliance Philippines International, Filipino Freethinkers, and Humanists International. We thank the Special Rapporteur for her report on her visit to the Philippines. Her finding that not enough is being done by the government to protect freedom of expression in the Philippines speaks to the experience of civil society.[1]
Despite the government’s claims to the contrary,[2] red-tagging is frequently used to target human rights defenders, some as young as 18,[3] as well as Indigenous activists. The free expression of Indigenous People in the Philippines is threatened not only through red-tagging but also through arbitrary designations under the Anti-Terrorism Act.[4] Many Indigenous leaders have been detained for acting on their legitimate right to protest against the destruction of their lands,[5] radio stations have been shut down,[6] and the culture created by these measures has led to the extrajudicial killings of Indigenous leaders.[7]
The right to free artistic expression has also been targeted; through killings and judicial crackdowns. Comedian Gold Dagal was murdered earlier this year during a performance, having previously received death threats for jokes about Christianity.[8] Such actions have only been encouraged by laws criminalising expression, including de facto ‘blasphemy’ laws. These laws, based on notions of “offense” have been used to prosecute drag performers[9] and criticisms of religion.[10]
We thank the Rapporteur again for her report and call on the Philippines’ Government to repeal these draconian laws which curtail free expression and contribute to the current culture of impunity for violence.
[1] https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/documents/hrbodies/hrcouncil/sessions-regular/session59/advance-version/a-hrc-59-50-add.1-aev.pdf para. 64
[2] https://docs.un.org/en/A/HRC/59/50/Add.3 supplementary documents, para. 28
[3] https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2025/04/philippines-state-sponsored-online-harassment-has-chilling-effect-on-young-human-rights-defenders/
[4] https://iwgia.org/en/philippines/5372-iw-2024-philippines.html
[5] https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/philippines-activists-increasingly-face-living-hell
[6] https://globalvoices.org/2019/09/15/filipino-community-radio-stations-struggle-to-survive-amid-attacks-and-difficulties/
[7] https://news.mongabay.com/2021/02/indigenous-leaders-killed-in-philippines-were-red-tagged-over-dam-opposition/
[8] https://rollingstonephilippines.com/culture/how-the-murder-of-comedian-gold-dagal-is-a-blow-to-free-speech/
[9] https://edition.cnn.com/2023/10/06/asia/philippines-drag-queen-pura-luka-vega-arrest-intl-hnk
[10] https://rollingstonephilippines.com/state-of-affairs/power/carlos-celdran-blasphemy-damaso-jose-rizal-noli-me-tangere
'Freedom of expression in the Philippines', Humanists International