Human Rights Watch (HRW) reported June 30 that authorities in the Philippines continue to conduct extrajudicial killings, with no accountability, as part of the government's anti-drug campaign. Ten years after then-President Rodrigo Duterte launched his brutal "war on drugs," serious human rights violations remain ongoing.

Amnesty International on May 14 called on the Philippines to apprehend Sen. Ronald dela Rosa, expressing deep concern over reports that he fled the Senate building to evade an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant.

Amnesty International Philippines executive director Ritz Lee Santos III stated: "We are deeply alarmed at the obstruction of justice and chaotic scenes witnessed at the Philippines Senate… It is hugely concerning that fellow Senators and others appear to have assisted him in evading arrest and in delaying the execution of the arrest warrant—effectively facilitating his escape for now."

The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) on Feb. 20 released a report warning that the rapid expansion of cyber-fraud compounds in Southeast Asia has resulted in widespread human rights abuses. The OHCHR described the phenomenon as a "wicked problem" requiring coordinated, human rights-based responses rather than enforcement-only crackdowns.

Burma on Jan. 16 began its defense before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the ground-breaking genocide case brought by the Gambia, rejecting all allegations of genocide against the Muslim Rohingya minority.

The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) warned Nov. 28 that the Burma military junta's planned elections could only worsen repression and instability rather than restore democracy. OHCHR spokesperson Jeremy Laurence described the elections, scheduled for Dec. 28, as a military-controlled process conducted in an environment "rife with threats and violence." He stated: "Far from leading a political transition from crisis to stability or restoring democratic and civilian rule, this process will almost certainly deepen insecurity, fear, and polarization throughout the country."

International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutors have brought charges against former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte for crimes against humanity, alleging he orchestrated thousands of murders during the grisly anti-drug campaign that has come to define his presidential legacy. The charges must be approved by the Pre-Trial Chamber.

Amnesty International on Sept. 5 condemned the charges against Thai activist and conscientious objector Netiwit Chotiphatphaisal, who is facing trial for refusing military conscription. The group demanded that Thailand's government drop all charges, asserting that the prosecution violates international human rights law. Netiwit, a former Amnesty International Thailand board member, faces three years in prison under Article 45 of the 1954 Military Conscription Act.

Days of popular protest in Indonesia exploded into violence Aug. 28 after Affan Kurniawan, a motorbike delivery worker, was fatally struck by a police vehicle in Jakarta. The worker had not even been participating in the protest when armored vehicles ploughed into the crowd, mowing him down. Both Grab and Gojek delivery apps confirmed that Kurniawan was registered on their respective platforms. Grab also offered condolences to the families of other affected workers, including Dandi Rusdamdiansyah, who was fatally attacked during unrest in Makassar. Kurniawan's helmet, lying in the rainy street after he was struck, has become an online viral image that fueled further demonstrations across the country. Six were killed and the army called to the streets before the protests were called off Aug. 31, when the government agreed to revoke controversial perks for lawmakers, including lavish housing allowances. But the underlying grievances of unemployment and inflation remain. (Jakarta Globe, Straits Times, CNA, NYT, France24, Politico, Marketing Interactive)