The Human Rights and People Empowerment Center, Inc. (HRPEC), with support from the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) and Governance in Justice II: The Human Rights Component (GOJUST II - HR), co-funded by the European Union and the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation, facilitated the 2025 Human Rights Electoral Forum. The event, held on February 3, 2025, carried the theme "Makatao, Maka-Tayo": To Stand for Human Rights is to Stand with Us, the Filipino People.

The forum took place amid a challenging human rights landscape in the country. In recent years, concerns over the absence of justice for victims of extrajudicial killings and the increasing number of enforced disappearances of human rights and environmental defenders had intensified. Additionally, economic and social rights issues, such as sustainable food systems, fair labor conditions, and livable communities, gained urgency in light of the climate emergency. The event underscored the critical role of civil society in shaping policies and ensuring their proper implementation.

With the 2025 elections approaching, the forum provided an essential platform for civil society organizations and voters to engage with national and local candidates on these pressing issues. Candidates were held accountable for their positions on human rights and were challenged to commit to upholding these principles both during the campaign and beyond.

A central highlight of the event was the launch of a 12-point human rights agenda, collectively drafted by 17 co-presenting organizations. The agenda outlined key demands from various sectors advocating for social justice and human rights protections. Candidates of the 2025 elections responded to these demands and expressed their commitments to safeguarding human rights.

The 2025 Human Rights Electoral Forum aimed to achieve two main objectives: (1) to place the human rights agenda at the forefront of the 2025 midterm elections and (2) to empower civil society and citizens to ensure that electoral aspirants remained accountable to human rights principles.

The forum was organized with the support of GOJUST II - HR and CHR, with funding from the European Union and the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation. It was presented by HRPEC alongside 16 other co-presenting organizations and in partnership with multiple advocacy groups, labor unions, and youth organizations dedicated to upholding human rights and democracy in the Philippines.

The successful gathering of advocates, policymakers, and electoral candidates marked a significant step toward integrating human rights into the national political discourse. As the country moved closer to the 2025 elections, the forum reinforced the collective demand for governance rooted in justice, dignity, and the protection of fundamental freedoms.