The Campaign for Human Rights in the Philippines (CHRP) was set up in July 2006 in response to the increasing number of political killings and human rights abuses taking place in the Philippines. Between the beginning of 2002 and the end of 2006 more than 830 people died or disappeared at the hands of death squads. The victims include farmers, trade unionists, university professors, church workers, political activists, students, and others who had been active in fighting for social justice in the Philippines.
The Philippines is currently the second most dangerous place in the world to be a journalist after Iraq. In July 2006 Amnesty International produced a special report Philippines: ‘Political killings, human rights and the peace process’. In October 2006 Guy Ryder, General Secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) described the Philippines as becoming “a second Colombia”.
The CHRP aims to raise awareness of the increasingly critical human rights situation In the Philippines and to put pressure on the Philippines Government both to protect its citizens and to fully investigate these killings. It is widely believed that the death squads are acting on behalf of the military forces. The group also aims to spotlight British investors or agencies, which profit from violations of human rights in the Philippines. Our activities have included holding seminars, hosting speaker tours and organising protest actions.
Our Objectives
1. To put pressure on the Philippines Government to stop the political killings and defend human rights in the Philippines
?2. To raise awareness in the UK about political repression in the Philippines with the aim of putting pressure on the Philippines Government to respect human rights.
3. To spotlight British investment and trade links which benefit from human rights violations in the Philippines.
4. To make links between the issues of poverty and political oppression in the Philippines and the situation of Filipino migrants in the UK