The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) is a milestone document in the history of human

rights. It was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on December 10, 1948, and sets out
the basic rights and freedoms that every human being is entitled to, regardless of their race, gender,
nationality, religion, or any other status.

The UDHR has several purposes, including:

To establish a common standard of human rights that all nations should strive to achieve.
To promote and protect human rights around the world.
To provide a framework for individuals, organizations, and governments to use in advocating for
human rights.
To ensure that individuals are aware of their human rights and can take action to protect them.
The UDHR is distinct from other human rights documents in several ways. Here are some examples:

The UDHR is not a legally binding document. It does not have the force of law in any country, but it
has been widely adopted as a moral and ethical guide for nations to follow.

The UDHR is comprehensive in scope. It covers a wide range of human rights, including civil and
political rights, economic, social, and cultural rights, as well as rights related to health, education, and
the environment.

The UDHR is universal in nature. It applies to all human beings, regardless of their nationality,
ethnicity, religion, or any other status.

The UDHR is aspirational. It sets out ideals that nations should strive to achieve but does not provide a
specific plan for how to achieve them.

In contrast to the UDHR, other human rights documents may be legally binding, focus on specific
issues or populations, or provide detailed guidance on how to protect and promote human rights.

Overall, the UDHR is a critical document that has served as a foundation for human rights advocacy
and protection around the world. It is a reminder that every person is entitled to certain fundamental
rights and freedoms and that we all have a role to play in upholding and promoting these rights.

The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) is a multilateral treaty
adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1966, which recognizes that the enjoyment of
economic, social and cultural rights is essential for the dignity and well-being of all human beings. The
Covenant establishes legally binding obligations for States parties to ensure the realization of these
rights.

The primary purpose of the ICESCR is to promote and protect economic, social and cultural rights.
These rights include, among others, the right to work, the right to education, the right to health, the
right to social security, the right to an adequate standard of living, the right to cultural participation,
and the right to form and join trade unions.
The Duterte administration's war on drugs has been a controversial issue since it began in 2016. The
campaign, aimed at eliminating the drug trade in the Philippines, has been accused of violating human
rights. The question of whether the ICC has jurisdiction over the cases of human rights violations in
the Philippines has also been raised. In this essay, I will examine both of these issues.

The war on drugs has been criticized for the high number of extrajudicial killings and human rights
violations. According to Amnesty International, over 12,000 people have been killed in the drug war
since 2016, many of them without due process. Human rights organizations have documented cases
of police brutality, torture, and unlawful arrests. The government's drug watchlist, which includes
over 100,000 names, has also been criticized for being arbitrary and prone to abuse.

The Duterte administration has defended the campaign, arguing that it is necessary to combat the
drug trade and that the killings are the result of police self-defense. However, critics have pointed out
that the high number of deaths suggests a pattern of systematic violence, rather than isolated
incidents of self-defense.

In addition to extrajudicial killings, the war on drugs has also had a chilling effect on freedom of
expression and the rule of law in the Philippines. Human rights defenders, journalists, and opposition
politicians have been targeted and harassed, leading to a climate of fear and intimidation.

The ICC, which is tasked with investigating and prosecuting individuals responsible for genocide,
crimes against humanity, war crimes, and crimes of aggression, has been monitoring the situation in
the Philippines. In February 2018, the ICC announced that it had opened a preliminary examination
into the situation in the country.

However, in March 2019, the Philippine government withdrew from the Rome Statute, which
established the ICC, citing the court's alleged bias against developing countries. The withdrawal was
widely criticized by human rights organizations and the international community. However, the ICC
has maintained that it retains jurisdiction over crimes committed while the Philippines was still a party
to the Rome Statute.

In December 2019, the ICC prosecutor announced that she had completed her preliminary
examination and found a reasonable basis to believe that crimes against humanity had been
committed in the Philippines. The prosecutor has requested authorization from the court to open a
formal investigation.

The Duterte administration has rejected the ICC's jurisdiction over the matter and has said it will not
cooperate with any investigation. The Philippine government has also established its own commission
to investigate the drug war, but critics have raised concerns about the commission's independence
and effectiveness.

In conclusion, the Duterte administration's war on drugs has been criticized for violating human rights
and undermining the rule of law in the Philippines. The ICC has been monitoring the situation and has
found a reasonable basis to believe that crimes against humanity have been committed. While the
Philippine government has withdrawn from the Rome Statute and rejected the ICC's jurisdiction, the
court has maintained that it retains jurisdiction over crimes committed while the Philippines was still a
party to the treaty. The situation in the Philippines remains a contentious issue, and the international
community will be watching closely as the ICC's investigation unfolds.

The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) is a human rights treaty adopted by
the United Nations General Assembly in 1966. The ICCPR aims to protect and promote civil and
political rights, such as the right to life, freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and the right to a fair
trial. The ICCPR is one of the two core human rights treaties along with the International Covenant on
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR).
The ICCPR has two main purposes: to ensure that individuals are able to enjoy their civil and political
rights without discrimination and to ensure that states parties to the covenant respect and protect
those rights. The ICCPR sets out a comprehensive framework for the promotion, protection, and
enforcement of these rights.

The ICCPR is distinguished from other human rights instruments in several ways. Firstly, it focuses on
civil and political rights rather than economic, social, and cultural rights. Secondly, it establishes the
individual as the primary subject and beneficiary of human rights, rather than the state or society.
Thirdly, it places an emphasis on the accountability of states parties, requiring them to report
regularly on their compliance with the covenant, and establishing an oversight body, the Human
Rights Committee, to monitor compliance and make recommendations.