United Nations (UN) special rapporteur is planned to visit the Philippines as a forensic pathologist, not in his capacity as a rapporteur on extrajudicial murders, according to Department of Justice (DOJ).
Morris Tidball-Binz, a forensic expert and UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial summary or arbitrary executions, was personally invited to the country by Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, according to a statement from the DOJ. He will be in the country from February 6 to February 9.
The department made it clear that Tidball-Binz is visiting the nation as a “specialist in the field of forensic pathology,” not as a special rapporteur on EJK.
“I invited Dr. Tidball-Binz because his work speaks for itself. His missions and projects had an immeasurable impact on the countries he has helped. He has provided closure for families and victims of extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances. We are hoping for the same when he visits the Philippines,” Remulla said.
Tidball-Binz, who previously worked for Amnesty International, the Inter-American Institute of Human Rights, Penal Reform International, and the International Service for Human Rights, was appointed special rapporteur in April 2021, according to the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
He also served as the first director of the Forensic Services and Unit of the International Committee of the Red Cross from 2004 to 2020. According to the DOJ, Tidball-Binz oversaw the ICRC’s Missing Persons Project in 2018, which contributed to the creation of new guidelines for the avoidance and settlement of missing person situations.
Referring to the accomplishments of Tidall-Binz, Remulla said: “This will pave the way for forensic pathologists and enhance their practice to achieve international standard practices. Dr. Tidball-Binz’s visit will help us identify the intricacies of wrongful death tragedies.”
“He is coming in his capacity as an expert in the field to help capacitate our current doctors. We need more capable doctors in our country to assist our law enforcement agencies in their work. This is an enormous step towards that goal,” the Justice official explained.
Two weeks have passed since the International Criminal Court (ICC) decided to reopen its inquiry into the drug war and murders committed by the Davao Death Squad under the Duterte government.
