[Interview] Shelter City Research Fellow Lou: Documenting children's rights in the Philippines 

Lou*, a Filipina human rights defender with a local human rights network, is dedicated to documenting gross human rights violations against children and young people in her country. As a Shelter City Research Fellow at the Asser Institute, she is investigating the accessibility of international justice mechanisms for child victims. Lou observes, "In the Philippines, human rights are more of a privilege, than actual rights." An interview. 

What is happening right now in the Philippines?  

"Children's rights organisations have documented the killings of over 150 children within six years during the height of the Philippine government's 'War on Drugs' campaign. This campaign was initiated by the populist president Rodrigo Duterte, who fundamentally challenges human rights. Duterte successfully convinced many Filipinos that drugs contributed significantly to many societal problems and crimes, thereby 'justifying' the elimination of people involved with drugs. Many groups were wrongly categorised as 'the enemy', which led to the 'othering' of certain societal groups. These children, and then particularly children-in-conflict-with-the-law and children-in-street-situations, became victims of severe human rights violations, including extrajudicial killings, arbitrary detention, torture, death threats, and fabricated drug-related charges. They received limited or no child-friendly support from the government, even at times, even being shunned by some children's rights NGOs, especially during the height of the War on Drugs. While some argue these children's deaths were mere collateral damage, there are cases that reveal deliberate targeting. Some child victims, particularly children-in-conflict-with-the-law and children-in-street-situations, had previous police interactions, were on existing records, or were even included in the Drug Watch Lists. To date, only two convictions have occurred in War on Drugs-related killings involving children, and no high-ranking officials have been held accountable." 

How did you begin your journey in human rights protection?  

"My journey started in my early 20s, when I became aware of human rights while volunteering for a children's rights organisation, working with adolescent-children-in-street-situations. Many of them were street-gang members. I learned that rights are universal and that everyone is entitled to them, even those society might perceive as 'bad'. The previous NGO that I worked with, had been documenting children's extrajudicial killings since 1998. Duterte had already implemented his War on Drugs at a smaller scale in his mayoral city, which witnessed 1,428 killings between 1998 and 2016. When he campaigned for President, we felt a moral imperative to raise awareness on the extrajudicial killings that should not be ignored, but sadly, not many were with us, then. 

Duterte's presidency revealed how polarising human rights are in the Philippines. Many people believe those allegedly involved in drugs or even petty crimes deserve to be killed and don't merit the same treatment as political or human rights activists. This dichotomous thinking enabled a populist President's rise. Even some prominent human rights organisations remained silent or supported Duterte, while our NGO was among the few expressing frustration. This setback only inspired me further. I pursued a master's in human rights, believing an advanced degree might help people take our evidence more seriously." 

Can you tell us more about your work?  

"After obtaining my masters degree, I started working with a local human rights network, documenting extrajudicial killings of children and young people in conflict with the law or in street situations. We monitor news reports, investigate killings, and verify information with victims' families and their peers - a process that can take weeks or months. We're not just gathering information like journalists. We assist families through legal procedures, like filing complaints with the Commission of Human Rights and facilitate psychosocial support as well." 

What are some of the challenges that come with your work?  

"Our work involves significant risks. We keep our documentation discrete and carefully navigate interactions with authorities. We also challenge popular approaches to helping children. We try to learn and adopt a progressive harm-reduction strategy, focusing on understanding each child's unique circumstances. We can’t do everything, so we collaborate with like-minded children’s rights organisations and human rights groups, recognising that drug use can stem from complex socioeconomic pressures. Together with partner organisations, we're developing modules on drug education and rehabilitation centered on human rights, advocating for viewing drug use as a public health issue rather than a criminal problem. We are also pushing to amend the Philippines' punitive drug law." 

What's the most rewarding part of your work?  

"Working with children and young people and their families can be incredibly fulfilling. Watching them realise that some incidents could be human rights abuses, and seeing them referring cases to us to protect their peers, is profoundly encouraging. Children even call us 'Nanay' [mother] or “Ate” (Big sister) or “Kuya” (Big Brother)." 

What motivated your research at the Asser Institute?  

"I'm investigating the accessibility of international justice mechanisms for child victims of crimes against humanity especially for children in the Global South. The Hague represents international justice, and I want to understand how mechanisms like the International Criminal Court (ICC) could realistically serve Filipino children. While the ICC has child protection policies, I'm exploring how these could translate into actual support. I hope the ICC will hasten their investigation into the alleged crimes against humanity in the War on Drugs, and eventually issue an arrest warrant for Duterte and other high-ranking officials that should be held accountable.” 

Your final message?  

"I hope that more scholars will research the ICC's role in the Global South, critically examining how international justice mechanisms can truly serve the victims including children-in-street-situations, children-in-conflict-with-the-law and children gravely affected by the War on Drugs in the Philippines and in dire need of support but lack access. True justice exists only when those facing the greatest challenges, can access it." 

* The interviewee requested anonymity.  

About the Shelter City Asser fellowship programme 

Since 2017, the T.M.C. Asser Instituut annually welcomes a human rights defender within the framework of Shelter City, a project initiated by Justice & Peace Netherlands that provides temporary relocation and training to legal practitioners who fight against human rights violations in their home countries. In the context of the Visiting Research Fellowship Programme of the Asser Institute, Shelter City Fellows will carry out a research project in the fields of human rights, international law or European law during a research stay (three months). In addition to researching the situation in their home countries, human rights defenders are part of the Asser research community and contribute to the Institute’s research. During lectures, they will also share the conclusions of their research with a wider public.