Honoring the Right to Truth, Justice, and Accountability

Every 30th of August, the world observes the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances— a stark reminder of the cases of desaparecidos and the urgent need for stronger state action.

The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) has consistently condemned enforced disappearances, particularly those targeting civil society members, human rights defenders, and marginalized communities. These acts shrink democratic space, weaken public trust in institutions, and sow fear among the abandoned loved ones.

Even more disconcerting is how enforced disappearances also often lead to a chain of other human rights violations, such as torture and other forms of cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment; denial of due process; and even violations to a person’s right to life among others. Enforced disappearance does not only destroy the rights of the victims, but also erode the stability of democratic processes when  the right to truth, to seek justice, and to demand reparation cannot be exercised.

While the passage of the Anti-Enforced or Involuntary Disappearance Act of 2012 was historic, the law remains underutilized. Prosecutions are rare, and accountability is elusive. Equally concerning, the Philippines has yet to sign and ratify the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance (ICPPED). 

The absence of such ratification limits the avenues for international accountability and weakens the protection framework for victims and their loved ones. The CHR, therefore, urges the government to demonstrate its commitment by ratifying the ICPPED. 

August 30, beyond being a symbolic observance, must stand as a call to action for truth, justice, and the restoration of public trust.

The CHR stands in solidarity with loved ones of the disappeared and all communities seeking truth. We reaffirm that the search for truth and justice is not just a private burden, but a public responsibility borne by the State.