Stepping Forward, Standing Strong

The term human rights defenders was coined after the ratification of the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights in 1998. The term encompasses those who identify and act as advocates, activists, professionals, and workers; those who monitor and take reports; and others who work in the human rights arena. The point of unity that all human rights defenders share is that they seek to promote and protect basic civil rights. They may do this in multiple capacities, including providing legal aid, mental health services, casework, and general protection such as providing shelter or security. The work of human rights defenders is difficult and dangerous. In 2017, more than 300 human rights defenders were killed. The Philippines has a history of violations in the spheres of labor, politics, and gender rights. In 2017, there were human rights violations in the form of more than 350,000 displaced persons, more than 4,000 extrajudicial killings, overpopulated prisons, and the trafficking of thousands of women and children. The most effective way to address these violations is through transnational organizing and movement building, cultivating international alliances of women who fight abuses against human rights defenders. These organizations and coalitions operate beyond borders and create change through engagement.