Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2019, published 109th ILC session (2021)

Abolition of Forced Labour Convention, 1957 (No. 105) - Philippines (Ratification: 1960)

Article 1(a) of the Convention. Punishment for holding or expressing political views or views ideologically opposed to the established political, social or economic system. The Committee previously noted that under section 3 of the Human Security Act of 2007, a person commits the crime of “terrorism” in committing certain existing offences, if a consequence is “sowing and creating a condition of widespread and extraordinary fear and panic among the populace, in order to coerce the Government to give in to an unlawful demand”, and that such acts are subject to a penalty of 40 years’ imprisonment (involving compulsory labour) without the benefit of parole. The Committee noted the Government’s reference to the application of the Human Security Act in cases illustrating the use of violence or incitement to violence (bombing, multiple murder and attempted murder). The Committee requested the Government to continue to provide information on the application in practice of the Human Security Act of 2007.

The Committee notes an absence of information on this point in the Government’s report. The Committee observes that in the Report of the Officer of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Human Rights Committee recommended reviewing the Human Security Act of 2007 to ensure that it not only defined crimes of terrorism in terms of their purpose, but also defined the nature of those acts with sufficient precision to enable individuals to regulate their conduct accordingly (A/HRC/WG.6/27PHL/2, paragraph 20). The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the application of the Human Security Act in practice, including copies of relevant court decisions.