U.N. Rights Expert, on Visit to Philippines, Denounces ‘War on Drugs’ Approach<br />In her remarks on Friday, Dr. Callamard did acknowledge<br />that drugs had become a global problem, causing health disorders for 29 million users and weakening the rule of law and governance enough to be identified as a "major threat." Those attending the special session last year "repeatedly denounced drug-related corruption, decrying its role in the obstruction of justice, including through intimidation of justice officials," Dr. Callamard said.<br />Delegates at the United Nations General Assembly special session last year had recognized<br />drug dependency as a "disorder of a chronic and relapsing nature," Dr. Callamard said.<br />Mr. Duterte has said that the Philippines would allow Dr. Callamard to carry out an official<br />investigation into the killings if she allowed him to publicly question her as well.<br />Speaking at a private policy forum in Manila, Agnès S. Callamard, the United Nations<br />special rapporteur on extrajudicial killings, did not mention Mr. Duterte by name.<br />By FELIPE VILLAMORMAY 5, 2017<br />MANILA — Implicitly rebuking the leader of the Philippines on a visit to his country, the United Nations’ top expert on extrajudicial killings said on Friday<br />that governments around the world had rejected the "war on drugs" approach being championed by President Rodrigo Duterte.
