The Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (PAHRA) strongly condemns the escalating military conflicts in the Middle East and beyond, particularly the dangerous tensions involving Iran, Israel, and the United States. These rapidly worsening confrontations not only risk devastating loss of life, but also open the door to widespread human rights violations under the guise of national security and military necessity.
“History has shown us that war and violence often unleash a wave of human rights abuses; from the bombing of civilian communities to the unlawful detention of vulnerable populations and the denial of humanitarian aid,” said Edgar Cabalitan, PAHRA Secretary-General. “These conflicts will undoubtedly be exploited by war-hungry world leaders to justify repression, expand militarization, and trample on the rights of those already living in crisis.”
PAHRA warns that these geopolitical power plays are not just battles between states; they are assaults on the lives of the most vulnerable. From the bombing of civilian homes to the mass displacement of women, children, and refugees, it is ordinary people who bear the brunt of selfish ambitions masked as defense. In every escalation, it is the rights of the powerless that are first to be sacrificed.
"It is beyond dangerous that the temper tantrums of powerful world leaders can lead to the mass killing of innocent people. When egos start wars, it is civilians — not commanders — who pay the ultimate price," Cabalitan emphasized. "Every missile launched is a failure of diplomacy. Wars may be waged by the powerful, but they are paid for by the powerless."
The alliance calls on human rights defenders, civil society organizations, and the international community to resist normalizing war and to hold state actors accountable for every act of aggression that violates international humanitarian and human rights law.
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