A Statement from Alliance for the Advancement of People’s Rights (KARAPATAN) forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission
Aside from the statements of the United Nations High Commissioner on Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein and two UN special rapporteurs on the inclusion of the names of UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Victoria Tauli-Corpuz and of human rights defenders in the Department of Justice petition proscribing the Communist Party of the Philippines and the New People’s Army as terrorist organizations, statements of support and solidarity poured in from several other UN bodies and international human rights organizations decrying the Duterte administration’s fake terrorist list.
Erik Solheim, head of UN Environment said “These charges must be dropped immediately, and support provided for the legitimate activities of these individuals who have UN mandates, and the civil society organizations with which they work…It is deeply concerning that authorities have routinely responded to the expressions of environmental and human rights defenders by criminalizing and delegitimizing their voices.” His full statement can be accessed through:https://www.unenvironment.org/news-and-stories/statement/statement-response-allegations-terrorism-against-un-special-rapporteurs
The UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues decried the charges against indigenous human rights defenders as “unsubstantiated” and called on the Philippine government to uphold its obligations under international human rights instruments, including the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders. Their full statement here: https://www.un.org/development/desa/indigenouspeoples/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2018/03/2018.03.13-UNPFII-statement-Philippines-HRDs.pdf
International human rights organizations and people’s organizations from various countries have expressed support for the activists and human rights defenders in the said fake terror list.
The Women’s Major Group, the Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development, Gabriela-New York and Innabuyog led a protest action at the Philippine Consulate in New York City on March 16, 2018 to express support for women human rights defenders in the list.
Among the organizations that released statements of support are:
Amnesty International
https://www.amnesty.org/download/Documents/ASA3580682018ENGLISH.PDF
Civicus World Alliance for Citizen Participation
https://www.civicus.org/index.php/media-resources/media-releases/3099-philippines-indigenous-rights-activists-at-risk-after-being-tagged-as-terrorists
Front Line Defenders
https://www.frontlinedefenders.org/en/statement-report/philippines-front-line-defenders-condemns-inclusion-human-rights-defenders-%E2%80%98terror
Protection International
https://www.protectioninternational.org/en/node/1664
Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development
http://apwld.org/statement-women-human-rights-defenders-are-not-terrorists/
Asian Indigenous Peoples Pact
http://iphrdefenders.net/philippines-end-the-abuse-of-power-and-violence-to-human-rights-defenders/
Pesticide Action Network – Asia Pacific
http://panap.net/2018/03/panap-statement-on-the-terror-listing-of-land-and-indigenous-peoples-rights-advocates-in-the-philippines/
Forum Asia
https://www.forum-asia.org/uploads/wp/2018/03/Statement-on-Philippines-withdrawal-from-ICC-and-Rome-Statute.pdf
International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines
https://www.facebook.com/ICHRPhilippines/posts/1350607198374119
Ibon International
http://www.iboninternational.org/statement/stop-duterte-admin-crackdown-rights-defenders
CSO Partnership for Development Effectiveness Working Group on Conflict and Fragility
https://www.facebook.com/IPMSDL/posts/805284756349388
United Nations Collaborative Programme on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation (UN-REDD)
http://www.unredd.net/announcements-and-news/2805-special-statement-un-redd-programme.html
International Union for Conservation of Nature https://www.iucn.org/news/secretariat/201803/iucn-dismayed-philippines-seeks-declare-un-special-rapporteur-%E2%80%98terrorist%E2%80%99
Cultural Survival
https://www.culturalsurvival.org/news/cultural-survival-stands-solidarity-victoria-tauli-corpuz-and-joan-carling-wake-unfounded
Alliance of Indigenous Peoples of the Archipelago –Indonesiahttp://www.aman.or.id/statement-of-concern-on-the-increasing-harassment-and-intimidation-of-indigenous-peoples-leaders-and-human-rights-defenders-in-the-philippines/
Friends of the Earth International
http://www.foei.org/news/philippine-tagging-criminalizing-human-rights-defenders
Bayan-USA
http://bayanusa.org/
Seventh Generation Fund for Indigenous Peoples
https://m.facebook.com/notes/seventh-generation-fund-for-indigenous-peoples/indigenous-peoples-are-the-first-responders-and-frontline-protectors-of-the-eart/10155951937470196/
Federation for Indigenous Peoples Self-Determination (FAPI)
http://www.fapi.org.py/organizaciones-internacionales-rechazan-acusacion-del-gobierno-de-filipinas-contra-defensores-de-derechos-humanos/
Slow Food
https://www.slowfood.com/slow-food-stands-in-solidarity-with-indigenous-peoples-in-the-philippines/
Land is Life
https://mailchi.mp/e0223cc8223f/land-is-life-denounces-the-terrorist-tagging-of-indigenous-rights-defenders-in-the-philippines?e=79a2fb5e7c
People’s Coalition for Food Sovereignty of Latin America
https://www.facebook.com/IPMSDL/posts/806950999516097
Association Pour L’integration et le development durable au Burundi
https://www.facebook.com/IPMSDL/photos/a.157906567753880.1073741826.151633228381214/807924656085398/?type=3&theater
Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People
https://www.facebook.com/IPMSDL/photos/a.157906567753880.1073741826.151633228381214/807470686130795/?type=3&theater
Association for Taiwan Indigenous Peoples’ Policies
https://www.facebook.com/atipp.tw/photos/a.1489739024633392.1073741829.1482199082054053/2018240348449921/?type=3&theater
Center for the Autonomy and Development of Indigenous Peoples – Nicaragua
https://www.facebook.com/cadpi.info/photos/a.348585161990737.1073741828.348247432024510/920476214801626/?type=3&theater
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The views shared in this statement do not necessarily reflect that of the AHRC.
