Extrajudicial Executions of Women Human Rights Defenders in the Philippines
According to reports by the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, on 13 February 2004, Mrs. Juvy Magsino and Mrs. Leima Fortu, both human rights defenders working in the Philippines, were reportedly killed by members of the Philippines Army (IBPA). Mrs. Juvy Magsino had allegedly previously received two death threats claiming that she would not live past 15 February 2004.
According to the information received, on 13 February 2004 at approximately 23.00, members of the 204th Infantry Brigade of the Philippines Army (IBPA) followed Mrs. Magsino and Mrs. Fortu while they were driving to Pinagsabangan to get a computer from a friend. Two men on a motorcycle without a license plate armed with a 9mm and an armalite allegedly covered Mrs. Magsino's vehicle with bullets and shot Mrs. Magsino and Mrs. Fortu to death in Barangay Amuguis.
Front Line is concerned that Mrs. Juvy Magsino and Mrs. Leima Fortu may have been targeted due to their human rights activities. It is reported that Mrs. Juvy Magsino was a vocal critic of the increasing military deployment in the island province, and that she had made statements about the alleged suspected involvement of the IBPA Commanding officer in extrajudicial executions in April 2003. She was a human rights lawyer and Chairperson of Mindoro for Justice and Peace and Vice Mayor of Naujan, in Mindoro Oriental. Mrs. Leima Fortu worked as a volunteer at Mindoro for Justice and Peace and as Acting Secretary General of the Alliance for the Advancement of People's Rights, KARAPATAN-Mindoro Oriental in the Philippines.
The extrajudicial execution of Human Rights Defenders contravenes the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, adopted by consensus by the UN General Assembly on 9 December 1998, article 12(2) of which stipulates that “The State shall take all necessary measures to ensure the protection by the competent authorities of everyone, individually and in association with others, against any violence, threats, retaliation, de facto or de jure adverse discrimination, pressure or any other arbitrary action as a consequence of his or her legitimate exercise of the rights referred to in the present declaration.