In Türkiye, Pride faces a battle on two major fronts: LGBTI rights are under increasing attack, while the right to protest has been severely limited for years. Since 2015, Pride events have been systemically banned in Türkiye, preventing LGBTI people from demanding their rights.
On the 50th anniversary of the declaration of martial law in 2022, Amnesty International Philippines started its year-long teach in on generational trauma brought about by the Marcos dictatorship to children and families of Martial Law heroes and survivors.
By the Cinemata Curatorial Team
In Amnesty International Philippines, we engage and work with a diverse network of partners and coalitions in our human rights work: school administrations and school-based organizations, youth groups, civil society organizations, government institutions, companies, and professional organizations such as lawyers’ and medical associations, solidarity and pressure groups, academic institutions open to human rights work, religious-based organizations, funding NGOs, developmental NGOs and people’s organizations, trade unions, environmental groups, women’s groups, humanitarian and peace groups, and NGO networks as well as the wide range of groups and organizations covering civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights.
On its 62nd anniversary, Amnesty International Philippines announced its Ignite Awards for Human Rights Season 3 winners following the theme “Protect the Protest”, Amnesty’s newest campaign on right to protest launched globally in 2022. Walden Bello and Center for International Law (Center Law) were named Most Distinguished Human Rights Defenders for individual and organization for the impact of their human rights work in demanding for justice and accountability from the government. The Outstanding Young Human Rights Defender Award was awarded to Franchesca Paula Garcia for her advocacy on violence against women, safe spaces, and equal rights for the LGBTQIA+ community, while Art that Matters for Music went to Calix and BLKD of the Sandata rap group for their work on the collaborative album, Kolateral.
Amnesty International is today calling for social security to be made available to everyone worldwide after a series of crises exposed huge gaps in state support and protection systems, leaving hundreds of millions facing hunger or trapped in a cycle of poverty and deprivation.
Our human right to just and favorable conditions of work as prescribed under the International Convention on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights include fair wages, equal pay for work of equal value, safe and healthy working conditions, reasonable limitations on working hours, respect and protection of women, LGBTQIA, persons with disability and indigenous peoples in the workforce, and equality of treatment in employment.
Protest is a human right because it allows people to stand up for what they believe in. This precious right is under attack all over the world right now. Will you join us in protecting it?
The phenomenon of red-tagging has been happening for decades but has intensified in the last few years under the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte, following the breakdown of peace talks between the government and the CPP in 2017. Duterte’s subsequent Executive Order (EO) 70 provides for a “Whole-of-Nation approach in defeating the Local Communist Terrorist Groups” and led to the creation of the NTF-ELCAC. Observers point to this moment in time as the beginning of a renewed campaign of red-tagging, threats and harassment against human rights defenders, political activists, lawyers, trade unionists and other targeted groups perceived to be affiliated with the progressive left.
Even the COVID-19 pandemic was not enough to stifle the spirit of protest in the Filipnos. During the strictest period of the lockdown in April 2020, several dozen protesters gathered in Quezon City demanding food and cash aid from the government. 21 of them were arrested for rallying without a permit and the local government strongly asserted that food packs had been continuously distributed throughout the city. 54
Another protest that came together somewhat organically and was facilitated by technology was the Million People March on August 26 of 2013. What started as a Facebook post turned into a rallying cry against corruption and culminated with 100,000 people in Manila and more in other cities. The call of protestors was the abolition of the “pork barrel” or the discretionary funds given to lawmakers for their pet projects. The scandal came to a head when accusations of $232 million in government funds intended for farmers were instead funneled into ghost projects and stolen. Following August 26 several other protests were held calling for transparency and the accountability of those who stole the funds. 40
When Aquino assumed power, farmers were initially hopeful that their cause would finally be won but as time wore on and no progress was made, they grew discontent. On 15 January 1987, farmers from Kilusang Magbubukid sa Pilipinas camped outside of the Ministry of Agrarian Reform with three demands: give lands to farmers for free; zero retention of land by landlords; and stop amortization of land payments. They met with MAR officials including the Minister himself, but they were unsatisfied that all they were offered was for the issue to be brought up to the President in a Cabinet meeting or to wait for the ratification of the 1987 Constitution. After a few days camped outside the building, and one day when they barricaded the building not allowing employees in to work, they marched to Mendiola. 32