Duterte proposes for the holding of world summit on human rights

November 10, 2017

President Rodrigo Duterte has said he would propose for the holding of a world summit on human rights.

Duterte brought up the idea as his administration has been accused of committing extrajudicial killings in the wake of his war on drugs.

In an interview with reporters at the sidelines of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Leaders' Meeting in Vietnam on Thursday night, Duterte told reporters that if United States President Donald Trump would raise the human rights issue during his bilateral meeting with him in Manila, he would tell the American leader to "talk about it later."

"We should have a summit only on human rights. But we should call all. Not zero in on me," Duterte said, noting violations of human rights also happen in other countries.

"There are so many violations of human rights, including the United States, including the continuous bombing in the Middle East, killing civilians, including the children, the schools," he said.

"So mine is just a small list. So let's have a summit of how we can protect the human rights for all human race...what makes the death of people in the Philippines more important than the rest of the children in the world that were massacred and killed," he said.

"So we should call a summit. I will volunteer to make the Philippines the venue," Duterte added.

Duterte said he would consult with other heads of states regarding his proposal and victims of human rights violations would also be invited to attend and "air their gripe or grievances."

Two US congressmen, Randy Hultgren and James McGovern, co-chairs of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, have asked Trump in an open letter to tell Duterte on America's “profound concern” over the alleged extrajudicial killings of drug suspects in the Philippines.

While Trump is expected to reaffirm US support for the Philippines, the US lawmakers have said that their leader should also reaffirm his government's commitments to fundamental human rights, including due process and the rule of law.

Duterte and Trump are set to hold bilateral meeting at the sidelines of the 31st Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit and Related Summits in Manila next week.

Duterte said he might order to ban the two US congressmen to enter the Philippines.

"And I’d like to know their names also because I can include them in the Immigration barred list," he said.

He reiterated that he would not visit the US as he expects protests if he would go there. Celerina Monte/DMS