A/HRC/44/22 United Nations General Assembly Distr.: General 29 June 2020 Original: English Human Rights Council Forty-fourth session 15 June–3 July 2020 Agenda item 2 Annual report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and reports of the Office of the High Commissioner and the Secretary-General Situation of human rights in the Philippines Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights*, ** Summary In the present report, key patterns of ongoing violations are highlighted. While important human rights gains have been made, and challenges remain, an overarching focus on national security, countering terrorism and illegal drugs has resulted in numerous systematic human rights violations, including killings and arbitrary detention, persistent impunity and the vilification of dissent. The High Commissioner makes constructive recommendations to the Government and the Human Rights Council, and stands ready to support credible efforts towards accountability. * The present report was submitted after the deadline so as to include the most recent information. ** The annexes to the present document are issued without formal editing and are reproduced as received. GE.20-08520(E) *2008520*