Press Release
Amnesty International Philippines, on its movement’s 65th anniversary, announced the winners of Ignite Awards for Human Rights Season 4, the country’s first ever award-giving body exclusively dedicated to honoring Human Rights Defenders (HRDs). The four awardees, selected from dozens of nominees across the Philippines, were recognized for their courage and commitment to defending human rights, and the impact it brings to the lives of so many people especially the most vulnerable.
“Our Season 4 Ignite Awardees remind us that human rights work comes in many forms. In a time where the right to protest itself needs to be defended, Amnesty International honors the dedication that these HRDs put into their activism. Your human rights work matters, we see you, we stand with you,” said Ritz Lee Santos, III, Amnesty International Philippines Section Director.
Our Season 4 Ignite Awardees remind us that human rights work comes in many forms. In a time where the right to protest itself needs to be defended, Amnesty International honors the dedication that these HRDs put into their activism. Your human rights work matters, we see you, we stand with you.
Ritz Lee Santos, III, Amnesty International Philippines Section Director
Ignite Awards for Human Rights, first launched in 2017, was a response to the unprecedented rise of the politics of demonization in the Philippines. As human rights faced exceptional strain when the government threatened with contempt hard won human rights. Amnesty took this as a challenge to provide support and much needed recognition to individuals whose life’s work focused on speaking truth to power and ensures changes in policy and accountability to bring about impact to ordinary peoples’ lives.
“Amnesty International Philippines’ #BilangTibak project under the Global Protect the Protest Campaign is this season’s theme. We continue to celebrate individuals and organizations who stand in the frontlines of political and social change, responding to injustices with bold action and vision for a fair and just society,” explained Santos.
Season 4 honors exemplary HRDs who serve as “igniters” and force multipliers in the fight against human rights violations and abuses. The winners were chosen through a rigorous nominations and selection process which started a year ago. Evaluated by five members of the Board of Judges based on three criteria: impact of human rights work (40%), coverage of human rights work (40%), and credibility (20%). Ignite Awards for Human Rights has four categories – the Most Distinguished Human Rights Defender given to individuals and organizations, Outstanding Young Human Rights Defender, and Art That Matters with Visual Arts, as the season’s genre.
“Selected from a pool of nominees and shortlisted alongside other finalist, we are pleased to announce that Cong. Sarah Elago has been awarded the Most Distinguished HRD – Individual category, while Karapatan Alliance Philippines took Most Distinguished HRD – organization. Cong. Elago and Karapatan both exemplify what it means to use protest as a tool to exact accountability from those in power. Their reach cuts across sectors, providing principled and evidence-based support to workers, farmers, indigenous peoples, women, and the youth. Their work spans the full spectrum of human rights, directly serving the community and sustaining engagement across the country,” Santos announced.
For the Outstanding Young HRD category, Kim Falyao came out as the forerunner among other finalists, and Art that Matter for Visual Art was awarded to Brian Barrios. Both respectively serving as individual inspirations for the youth and for using art for advocacy.
“Kim Falyao is proof that the future is feminist. What stands out is their deeply rooted dedication to serving the marginalized and vulnerable indigenous peoples communities. Brian Barrios documents resistance through their installation art. Their work brings the community together though collective and interactive experiences, making the human rights discourse visible and accessible to those beyond traditional advocacy spaces,” added Santos.
The inherent power of activism and protest are what authoritarian state forces have been trying to suppress for centuries but fail miserably doing so. Courage takes many faces, all Ignite Awardees share the same conviction – the refusal to look away, they share the same heart for collective action. Amnesty International Philippines is proud to celebrate them and their work that shares our movement’s vision of a world where human rights are enjoyed by all.
The Season 4 trophy, designed by artist Art Arreglado, represents activists as a collective body, drawing from the idea of the people-powered movement working as a single entity despite differences in activism. It visualizes dissent as a shared anatomy where each placard and slogan with the raised arm form parts of a larger whole. It is fragmented yet unified, and speaks about how individual acts of protest come together to create a movement built from conviction, standing for those who resist.
“The inherent power of activism and protest are what authoritarian state forces have been trying to suppress for centuries but fail miserably doing so. Courage takes many faces, all Ignite Awardees share the same conviction – the refusal to look away, they share the same heart for collective action. Amnesty International Philippines is proud to celebrate them and their work that shares our movement’s vision of a world where human rights are enjoyed by all.” Concluded Santos.