The Philippines War on Drugs and Its Impact on Health and Democracy

The Philippines is in the midst of a controversial war on drugs under President Duterte, resulting in thousands of deaths and a significant impact on public health. This campaign has raised concerns about human rights violations, weak democracy, and challenges to health-based responses to drug use. However, there are ongoing efforts to resist Duterte's policies and promote human rights, harm reduction, and legal advocacy in affected communities.

• Philippines
• War on Drugs
• Health Impact
• Human Rights
• Democracy

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Uploaded on Aug 03, 2024 | 2 Views

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1. CONFLICT OF INTEREST DISCLOSURE No conflict of interest to declare

2. The Philippines: War on drugs War on the poor War against democracy War on human rights War on health Artist: Luigi Almuena

3. WHATS HAPPENING 20,606 killed: 4,251 from legitimate police operations, & 16,355 deaths under investigation. 98,799 anti-drug operations & 142,069 individuals arrested 1.3 million drug users or drug pushers who surrendered Political attacks: Sen. De Lima in jail; Chief Justice unconstitutionally ousted; Vice- President vilified; spate of killings targeting local officials & priests; independent media attacked. *With contributions from Kristine Mendoza

4. IMPACT ON HEALTH The most explosive HIV epidemic: 54,332 total HIV cases since 1984; 79% of these cases were reported from 2013 to 2018. Almost 80% of new cases among MSM, while 4% among PWID National govt challenging health-based responses to drugs, including harm reduction Public funding going to war on drugs is immense Climate of suspicion vs civil society and communities

5. WHY ITS HAPPENING The Philippines as a weak democracy War on drugs as Duterte s formula to consolidate power & survive War on drugs as a platform for impunity, in parallel to other social control campaigns (anti- loitering, anti-smoking) & effort to amend the constitution

6. Resisting Duterte Ongoing human rights initiatives to document human rights violations, especially killings, and to support ICC case Ongoing community-led efforts: delivery of ARVs for PLHIVs in detention; harm reduction services for PWIDs Harm reduction advocacy: an NGO organising trainings on harm reduction for various stakeholders; a PWID community group delivering services; a group of young lawyers sensitising legal community for drug policy reforms and to deliver legal aid for people who use drugs; efforts to reach out to urban poor communities disproportionately affected by the war on drugs.