Despite President Marcos Jr.’s pro-human rights rhetoric, the human rights situation in the Philippines has not significantly improved by 2025. Concrete measures in the area of human rights that lead to clear progress are still lacking; yet the European Commission announced the resumption of the bilateral free trade agreement (EPFTA) negotiations with the Philippines in March 2024. The first round of negotiations took place in October 2024, and the second round will start on February 10, 2025.
The AMP Briefing Note discusses why it is important to consider the human rights situation in the Philippines in the context of the EPFTA negotiations.
