Our exhibition and showcase—RESBAK! Arts & Resistance Against the Drug Killings in the Philippines—coincided with CCNY’s Third Critical Perspectives on Human Rights Conference, which aimed to explore the contested legacy of human rights in increasingly uncertain times. RESBAK (RESpond and Break the Silence Against the Killings) is an interdisciplinary alliance of artists, media practitioners, and cultural workers. Its primary goal is to advance social awareness regarding the killings that the Duterte administration’s “war and drugs” instigated. Featuring RESBAK members and works, we present photography, visual art, and multimedia—and at the conference, opportunities for sharing and discussion—that confront the consequences and aftermath of Duterte’s “war on drugs,” particularly its impact on poor and marginalized communities. The program serves as both a tribute to the victims and a call for justice, encouraging viewers to consider the human cost of political actions.

• Art & photography exhibition—17 April 2024 through June 2024)

• Aksyon: Films for Change short film showcase