MANILA — Amnesty International is set to launch its flagship “The State of the World’s Human Rights 2025/26” report in Manila on April 21, as regional tensions and maritime security concerns intensify.
Covering trends across 144 countries, the report will be presented by Ritz Lee Santos III, section director of Amnesty International Philippines.
In a press advisory, AI-PH said the briefing will tackle what it described as “attacks on multilateralism, international law, and civil society,” alongside warnings of a deepening global rights crisis.
The Philippine chapter will highlight key issues including impunity, unlawful use of force, workers’ rights, and the right to a healthy environment. AI-PH is also expected to present Malacañang’s response to its Human Rights Legislative Agenda for the 20th Congress.
The report’s release comes as maritime monitoring groups flag continued activity by foreign vessels within the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ), including instances of ships disabling their Automatic Identification System (AIS) to avoid detection.
Recent data cited late-2025 incidents near Sabina Shoal, where Chinese vessels reportedly blocked Filipino fishing boats, and “dark” patrols by China Coast Guard ships, raising concerns over access to fishing grounds and resource areas.
For Northern Mindanao, these developments carry direct economic risks. Disruptions in Philippine waters threaten inter-island shipping and seafood supply chains, affecting fisherfolk livelihoods and the region’s broader agricultural and industrial base.
As rights groups focus on civil liberties, analysts say the overlap with maritime security underscores a growing link between human rights, economic stability, and national sovereignty.
