
Human Rights in the Philippines: Challenges & Fight for a Democratic Future Talk by Neri Colmenares, veteran human right lawyer and activist
Neri Colmenares, 62, is a veteran human rights lawyer and activist who was detained for four years when the Philippines was under Martial Law. In 2018, he filed the second petition accusing President Duterte of murder and crimes against humanity before the International Criminal Court on behalf of eight victims of the “war on drugs”. He was also a co-petitioner in one of the 37 constitutional challenges to the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020. Colmenares served as Bayan-Muna representative in the lower house from 2007 to 2016. In 2009, he helped form the Makabayan bloc (or Makabayang Koalisyon ng Mamamayan), composed of socio-civic party-lists including Bayan Muna, Gabriela, Anakpawis, ACT Teachers and Kabataan.
