A/HRC/44/22 establish an independent investigation.112 The International Criminal Court, for its part, is conducting a preliminary examination of the situation in the Philippines. The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights again emphasizes the need for independent, impartial and effective investigations into the killings and stands ready to assist credible efforts towards accountability at the national and the international levels. 86. The High Commissioner expresses the readiness of OHCHR to continue positive engagement with the Philippines, including through enhanced provision of technical assistance and capacity-building, particularly for the implementation of the recommendations contained in the present report, and through continued monitoring and reporting on progress on human rights. V. Recommendations 87. The High Commissioner calls upon the Government of the Philippines to: (a) In context of its campaign against illegal drugs: (i) Repeal Philippine National Police Command Memorandum Circular No. 16-2016; cease “Project Tokhang”, and urgently put an end to extrajudicial killings, arbitrary detention and other violence targeting suspected drug offenders and people using drugs; and abolish the compilation and publication of “drug watch lists” at all administrative levels; (ii) Undertake a comprehensive review of legislation and policies relating to narcotics, including revisiting the mandatory penalties for drug offences; consider decriminalization of drug possession for personal use; and implement alternative measures to incarceration, and other human rights-based responses; (iii) Ensure adequate assistance for families of victims of drug-related killings, including financial aid, legal support and psychosocial services. (b) National security laws and policies: (i) Rescind Memorandum Order No. 32; and ensure that emergency measures are necessary, proportionate and time-bound, and are limited to those strictly required by the exigencies of the situation; (ii) Urgently disband and disarm all private and State-backed paramilitary groups; (iii) Review Executive Order No. 70 and its implementation to ensure compliance with rule of law and international human rights norms and standards, and that political and socioeconomic grievances are tackled through meaningful, participatory consultation. (c) Accountability: (i) Empower an independent body to conduct prompt, impartial, thorough, transparent investigations into all killings, and into alleged violations of international humanitarian law, with a view to prosecution and to the provision of remedies for victims and their families; (ii) Improve systems for compiling and publishing consistent, disaggregated data on all allegations of extrajudicial killings; (iii) Improve cooperation between law enforcement bodies and the Commission on Human Rights; strengthen the investigative and forensic capacity of the Commission, including through adoption of the Commission on 112 See www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/HRC/Pages/NewsDetail.aspx?NewsID=24679&LangID=E. 17