The Project seeks to increase the awareness of beneficiaries and the general public on the human rights situation in the Philippines, and challenge the culture of impunity that prevails in the country. It will do this through strengthening networks of human rights defenders and advocates, increase their awareness and skills, and engage in monitoring and research on the Philippine human rights situation. It will also engage in public advocacy and lobbying for respect for international human rights instruments, the implementation of recommendations of the United Nations Human Rights Council and its various human rights mechanisms, and for the implementation of national legislation towards the protection of human rights. It will provide support to victims of human rights violations to ensure their security and recovery and by supporting and increasing the capacity of a network of legal advocates to offer legal and paralegal support, file cases and monitor the progress of significant cases.
The Project will also seek to give emphasis to the breadth of economic, social, and cultural rights and seek to involve a broad spectrum of HR defenders including indigenous peoples, environmental defenders, the media, the urban poor, workers, farmers, fisherfolk, church people and those from other civil society organizations.
Objectives
General Objective: To deter and prevent, and upgrade responses and defences to incidents of human rights violations, by improving stakeholder collaboration, supporting and broadening networks of human rights defenders, monitoring the human rights situation, engaging in public advocacy and lobbying, providing sanctuary and support to victims, and engaging in legal advocacy.
Specific Objectives:
• Increase the skills, capacities and confidence of human rights defenders.
• Expand and support networks of human rights defenders.
• Research, monitor, evaluate, and analyze the human rights situation.
• Engage in public advocacy and lobbying at local, national and international levels.
• Support the security and recovery of victims of human rights violations.
• Provide legal services and advocacy through a network of legal advocates.
Education, Training and Capacity Building
The project aims to increase the awareness, knowledge, skills, capacities and confidence of human rights defenders and those who provide assistance to victims of human rights violations.
Network Strengthening and Consolidation
The Project aims to build on past gains and lessons learnt to enhance the synergy and expand networks of human rights defenders among church people lawyers, media practitioners, indigenous people, workers, farmers, fisher folk, environmental defenders and victims of human rights violations.
It also aims to establish networks of sanctuary providers and other vital direct services, for the provision of quick reaction and responses to cases, legal and paralegal assistance nationwide and to sustain the End Impunity Alliance.
To engage in monitoring, research and publication to highlight major human rights concerns, generate reports on the compliance of the Philippines with the international human rights instruments and utilize diverse media and online platforms to increase awareness of human rights concerns. Also, to support and train journalists in reporting human rights concerns.
To engage in public advocacy and lobbying at local, national and international levels to raise the profile of human rights concerns, ensure Philippine compliance with international human rights instruments and standards, the adoption of recommendations such as those by international monitor and reviews processes, and pursue efforts with legislators aimed at drafting and passing laws, appropriate implementing rules and regulations promoting and protecting human rights, and to generate public awareness about the general human rights situations and particular incidents of human rights violations.
To support the recovery of victims of human rights violations and their families through the provision of educational assistance, alternative livelihood, psycho-social support, medical assistance and referral, and seek to safeguard people from ongoing threats by maintaining a network of “mobile” or “embedded” sanctuaries, and to establish a secure and effective client referencing system to ensure that the support being provided is coordinated and sustained.
To establish a network of legal advocates and increase their capacity to provide legal assistance, representation and other legal services to litigants and clients, inside and outside the court room. To file appropriate cases, monitor cases and provide appropriate venues for legal advocates to analyze legal problems and strategize in handling human rights cases.