Pursuing Justice: The Philippines, the ICC and the Fight for Accountability
On 22 September 2025, the Coalition for the ICC convened a webinar to examine the landmark case against former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte at the International Criminal Court (ICC).
The webinar brought together civil society leaders, ICC representatives, lawyers, and grassroots advocates who echoed a common message: the Duterte case at the International Criminal Court is historic not only because a former head of state sits in detention in The Hague, but because it represents the long-awaited chance for victims to be seen and heard.
Moderated by Nour Nassif, from the Coalition for the ICC, and Dr. Aurora Corazon Parong, from the Philippine Coalition for the ICC, the sessions underscored that justice must be victim-centred, recognising not just the crimes of murder, but the broader spectrum of harms, from torture and sexual violence to the social and economic devastation of families left behind. Speakers warned that delays, disinformation, and narrow charges risk retraumatising survivors and erasing their experiences from the official record.
Yet they also pointed to resilience: victims filling out applications despite fear, communities of widows and activists creating their own movements for justice, and civil society organisations serving as bridges connecting the International Criminal Court with the realities of victims and local communities.
The thread uniting the panellists was clear: accountability for Duterte is not only about one man’s trial. It is about affirming the dignity of thousands of Filipinos, exposing the truth of the so-called “war on drugs” to the world, and strengthening an ecosystem of justice, from the courtroom in The Hague to the streets of Manila, that ensures every victim counts and nobody is left behind.
