PARLIAMENTARY EARLY DAY MOTION
EXTRA-JUDICIAL KILLINGS IN THE PHILIPPINES (13 November 2017)

That this House notes with alarm the number of extra-judicial killings which have taken place in the Philippines as a result of President Duterte's so-called war on drugs which is estimated by Amnesty International at around 1,000 killings a month; further notes the threat of President Duterte to kill human rights defenders and journalists; notes the Philippines Government's refusal to accept the recommendations of the UN Human Rights Committee Periodic Review for ending the extra-judicial killings, and the EU’s current review of its preferential trade deal with the Philippines in the light of the continued killings and human rights violations; notes with concern the visit of the UK International Trade Minister, on 3 and 4 April 2017, in which he met with President Duterte and offered increased trade between the UK and the Philippines; calls on the Government to halt any further UK trade missions to the Philippines until the killings have stopped; and further calls on the Government to commit itself to attach at least the same requirements for basic human rights standards, which are contained in the EU’s trade agreements to any post Brexit trade agreement which it makes with the Philippines or with any other country.

Sponsored by:
Helen Hayes (Labour)