Submission to the Committee on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights 77th Session, 2025 Philippines
In Defense of Human Rights and Dignity Movement (iDEFEND), a coalition of over 66 grassroots organizations and advocates from across the Philippines and abroad, welcomes the opportunity to contribute to the Committee on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (the Committee) as it reviews the Philippines’ Seventh Periodic Report under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR).
This submission draws upon the inputs from grassroots organizations advocating for the realization of economic, social, and cultural rights, with a particular focus on marginalized populations. It critically analyzes the Philippine government’s performance in fulfilling its ICESCR obligations, including adherence to core principles such as ensuring Minimum Essential Levels of rights, preventing retrogressive measures, and addressing discrimination. The State’s obligation to prioritize those at greatest risk remains paramount, even in the context of resource constraints.
News
Working justice system? - iDEFEND
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A Navotas Regional Trial Court found Police SSgt. Gerry Maliban and four other policemen guilty of homicide and illegal discharge of weapons, resulting in the death of 17-year old Jemboy Baltazar. Another cop was acquitted. Maliban is sentenced to jail for up to six years while four of the convicted have been released for “time served”.
Ilaban ang karapatan para sa tagumpay ng mamamayan
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Pahayag ng iDefend sa #UDHR75
Sa ika-75 anibersaryo ng Deklarasyon ng Karapatang Pantao, ginugunita sa buong mundo ang adhikain ng Dignidad, Kalayaan at Hustisya para sa lahat. Sinasariwa natin ang pagkakaroon ng isang deklarasyong ibinunga ng pinakamadilim na yugto ng kasaysayan, ang pangalawang pandaigdigang giyera. Isang deklarasyong nakatuon sa kinabukasan na wala nang nagugutom, inaapi, dinadahas, at ninanakawan ng pag asa.
PHILIPPINE GROUPS FORM ANTI-WAR NETWORK: Call for Permanent Ceasefire, End to Genocide in Gaza
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We, the Philippine groups representing various interests and advocacies, including those on human rights, labor, women, youth, urban poor, Moro and IPs, environment, and political parties, form ourselves today into NO TO WAR network in solidarity with the world’s people who are suffering from the devastating impacts of ongoing conflicts and in preventing the slide of other conflicts into new wars, including those in Asia and possibly in the Philippines.
The vindication of Leila De Lima
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Former Senator Leila de Lima has been granted bail and released by the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court where she is facing her last drug related case. This vindicates her and the good fight she waged against the violent and criminal rule of former President Rodrigo Duterte. De Lima was ousted from the Senate leadership of the Committee on Justice and Human Rights in 2016 and slapped with trumped up charges by the Duterte government after initiating the only credible investigation into the war on drugs.