2025 HUMAN RIGHTS AGENDA

2025 HUMAN RIGHTS AGENDA

Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (PAHRA)

I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The 2022 Human Rights Electoral Agenda crafted by the Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (PAHRA) builds on the success of the development and popularization of the 2019 Human Rights Agenda and the Karapat-dapat campaign. The worsening situation of human rights in the Philippines is enabled by a direct assault on basic principles of human rights, antagonization of Human Rights Defenders (HRDs) and advocates, disrespect to the Rule of Law, and intentional weakening of democratic institutions. These forms of attacks against human rights have made it even more difficult for HRDs and advocates to seek accountability from State actors.

In 2025, a change in the status quo is envisioned through the conduct of the national elections. Many individuals who vie for top posts in government possess the track record and promise of a better human rights situation. Unfortunately, candidates who have a history of violating human rights are also gaining popularity.

With this, PAHRA finds it necessary to continue launching and popularizing a Human Rights Agenda which we shall demand from people running in various posts. This initiative is also a reminder that human rights is an indispensable part of good governance advocacy and that it should be an integral part, if not a primary framework, in other issues related to economic, social, and political development.

II. OUR PROCESS

The HR Agenda draws upon the experiences, aspirations, and discussions of PAHRA members which were gathered in a national campaign conference held in a hybrid setup, on 7 March 2025 . A documentation was produced, and discussion points were highlighted. The 2022 HR Agenda was presented as a reference material and members had an opportunity to comment on how it could be improved, given the current political landscape.

An initial draft was produced by the PAHRA Secretariat and members of the working committee, which was formed during the campaign conference. This draft considered the points raised by the members during the campaign conference. It will then be finalized and agreed on by the council of leaders through the Council of Leaders’ Meeting which will be held from 19 March 2025 – 21 March 2025.

III. CORE THEMES AND KEY FOCUS AREAS

The HR Agenda has the following as its three core themes:

• LIGTAS – Freedom from violence, abuse, poverty, hunger, disasters, and illness.

• SAPAT – Adequate social services, food security, and employment opportunities.

• PATAS – Fairness and justice prioritizing the marginalized and underprivileged sectors.

The campaign envisions a government that is pro-people, environmentally conscious, godly, and patriotic. This governance would respect, protect, and fulfill human rights while promoting inclusive and just development for the nation.

Meanwhile, the campaign has seven key focus areas. These are as follows:

1. Governance and Accountability

The mid-term elections provide an opportunity to break the cycle of corruption, inefficiency, and lack of transparency that continues to plague the country. Rampant abuses of power have eroded trust in public institutions and disproportionately harmed marginalized communities. The electorate must rally behind candidates who commit to clean governance, strengthening anti-corruption mechanisms, and ensuring that public resources are used for the greater good.

2. Campaign Against Political Dynasties

The pervasive influence of political dynasties has long skewed governance and decision- making at both national and local levels. These entrenched families perpetuate inequality, centralize power, and often protect corrupt practices, exacerbating the plight of marginalized sectors. The 2025 elections offer a platform to intensify the campaign against political dynasties, educating voters on their detrimental effects and advocating for reforms that promote inclusivity, accountability, and broader representation in leadership roles.

3. Empowering Marginalized Communities

The dominance of political dynasties and the culture of corruption often result in national policies and local decisions that ignore the needs of vulnerable sectors. The elections provide an avenue to elect leaders who prioritize:

• Expanding access to essential services such as education, healthcare, and housing.

• Advocating for the rights of indigenous peoples, farmers, fisherfolk, and urban poor communities.

• Implementing equitable economic recovery measures to alleviate poverty and reduce disparities.

4. Strengthening Human Rights Protection

With ongoing impunity and systemic neglect of human rights, the elections are a chance to demand policies and leaders that prioritize safeguarding human dignity.

• Strengthening mechanisms to address extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, and other rights violations.

• Enforcing Republic Act No. 10353 (Anti-Enforced or Involuntary Disappearance Act) and other relevant human rights legislation.

5. Climate Justice and Environmental Advocacy

As the climate crisis worsens, the elections are critical for pushing for leadership that recognizes the intersection of human rights and environmental protection. Elected officials must commit to:

• Advancing sustainable development and climate mitigation policies.

• Protecting the environment against illegal mining, deforestation, and other destructive practices.

• Ensuring climate adaptation measures that protect vulnerable communities.

6. Challenging Corruption and Power Abuse

Corruption and abuse of power not only drain resources but also perpetuate inequities, especially at the local level. These issues often result in:

• Misallocation of funds intended for essential services.

• Suppression of dissent and the marginalization of opposition voices.

Voters must use the elections to demand leaders who will uphold transparency, enforce stricter anti-corruption laws, and hold public officials accountable for their actions.

7. Campaign Against Electoral Fraud

Electoral Fraud directly impacts human rights by violating the right to free and fair elections, denying citizens their participation in governance, and fostering environments where political repression, inequality, and discrimination thrive. Fraudulent elections often marginalize vulnerable groups and can provoke unrest, making it crucial for the protection of human rights and democratic values to ensure elections are transparent, legitimate, and representative of the people's will.

III. THE 2025 HUMAN RIGHTS ELECTORAL AGENDA

1. FULFILLING THE RIGHT TO HEALTH

1.1. Enhance and build up the health system

1.1.1 Fast track the implementation of the Universal Health Care Act, Mental Health Law, and development of health system nationwide

• Immediately start implementation of the Universal Health Care Act and

ensure registration of all to PhilHealth

• Ensure availability and accessibility of quality of goods (medicines, supplies), services of health professionals and workers, facilities (MHO, Barangay Health Centers, hospitals) and programs even for non-COVID- 19 cases who need health care

• Give priority to development and enhancement of primary health care (PHC) especially in far-flung and geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs) for the vulnerable, disadvantaged, and marginalized

• Ensure more resources at the LGUs for health care, and that resources are not misspent or misused by following accountability mechanisms and by revamping DOH and PhilHealth

• Policies for emergency purchase as required by COA should be followed.

• Increase the number of health personnel in the public health facilities and improve their salaries

1.1.2 Review and restructure the budget for 2025 to be able to allot subsidy for PhilHealth.

• Pursue the declaration of the 2025 General Appropriations Act as unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.

1.2 Push for policies that will help improve women’s health.

• Sign the Prevention of Adolescent Pregnancy (PAP) bill, which includes mandatory Comprehensive Sexuality Education, into law.

• Allot a budget for reproductive health (RH).

1.3 Advocate for the improvement of mental health in the community and the workplace.

1.4 Better implementation of compassionate early release (medical parole) under the Good Conduct Time Allowance (GCTA Law)

2. RIGHTS-BASED GOVERNANCE

• Make participation, accountability, non-discrimination, transparency, human dignity, empowerment and rule of law (PANTHER) as the hallmark of the new administration

• Push for the signing of the Anti Political Dynasty Bill into law.

• Block the unnecessary and vile efforts to change the Constitution and present government structure by scrutinizing the calls and intentions of a proposed Charter Change

• Eradicate graft and corruption through strong institutional reforms and a commitment to rebuild public trust in government

• Strengthening democratic institutions through institutionalizing public participation especially of marginalized sectors, in national and local development such budget processes and other decision-making processes; promoting the political participation of vulnerable groups; and

• Ensure accessibility of government services for all, on the basis of equality, equity and non-discrimination (e.g., education, health).

• Institutionalize human rights offices/desks and officers in the PNP and the AFP and other government agencies, in all levels (including barangay level);

• Full implementation and compliance of concluding observations and recommendations of UN Treaty bodies

• Enact the Anti-Dynasty Law to enable equality of opportunity in government service and leadership

• Support the institutional strengthening of the Commission on Human Rights as a National Human Rights Institution by enacting the CHR Charter Bill, and ensure that other human rights units, such as the Regional Human Rights Commission of the BARMM are strengthened

3. COMPLIANCE WITH INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS TREATIES AND INSTRUMENTS

• Sign, ratify and/or rejoin State membership and commitment to international human rights and State accountability instruments such as but not limited to:

o Rome Statute / International Criminal Court

o International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearances

o Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) Optional Protocol on Communications,

o International Convention on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Optional Protocol on Communications

o ILO Convention No. 169 concerning Indigenous and Tribal Peoples in Independent Countries.

o ILO Convention 181 on Migrant Workers (regarding Private Recruitment Agencies)

• Enforce and fully implement:

o Concluding Observation on Convention on Rights on People with Disabilities 2018

o International Convention on Civil and Political Rights Optional Protocol 2 Against the Death Penalty

o Enforcement of Global Compact for Migration

• Heed the call to rejoin the International Criminal Court (ICC)

 Fully comply with the international obligation to submit periodic reports before the UN Human Rights Council Bodies.

4. INCREASED ACCESS TO JUSTICE AND ACCOUNTABILITY, AND ENDING IMPUNITY

• Stop Extra-Judicial Killings and ensure the accountability of perpetrators of human rights violations in relation to the war on drugs

• Full and strict implementation of all existing laws such as but not limited to:

o Anti-Enforced Disappearance Law; Anti-Torture Act; Laws on criminal procedure (arrest and detention), etc.

• Transparency on procedures and Access to Information

• Accessibility of range of services to achieve justice, beyond the legal framework

• Empower and recognize victim-survivors as active agents of accessing accountability and justice

• Strengthen Witness Protection Program, for timely and sustainable protection for prospective witnesses and their families

• Revive and Strengthen Monitoring Mechanisms of gross human rights violations of Torture, Extra-Judicial Killings, Enforced Disappearance

o A.O. 35 Inter-Agency Committee (Government)

o National Monitoring Mechanism /NMM (CHR, CSOs and Govt)

o Increase personnel, continue reforms in the justice system to improve court efficiency

o Sensitization of courts and quasi-judicial courts

Ex. Testimonies of deaf people, recognize witness translated statements as admissible in court

o [Ensure]that Restorative Justice as Framework for Justice is followed

o Review and improve correctional facilities / Decongest jails and correctional facilities

o Review of the implementation of the Writ of Amparo

o Develop and implement a comprehensive transitional justice program and uphold the principles of Transitional Justice on: Historical revisionism of Marcos, Marawi Siege, Ampatuan Massacre, Atrocities against the Moro people, etc.

o Strengthen justice-making rule of law, due process in the investigation, crime prevention and prosecution

o Ensure that policies are based on evidence

5. GUARANTEE PROTECTION AND INCLUSION OF VULNERABLE SECTORS

Take further steps to combat marginalization and discrimination, including by providing sufficient funding to the full implementation of laws and policies protecting rights of women, older persons, children, IPs and LGBT, overseas workers, PWD, and people in vulnerable situations.

Enact the Comprehensive Anti-Discrimination Bill

A. Overseas Workers

Ensure rights and protection of migrant and overseas Filipino workers by full implementation of the Migrant Workers Act including strengthening of protection mechanisms like:

• Establishment of a functional Migrant’s desk

• Widen the Anti-trafficking network for migrant workers to stop all forms of illegal recruitment and human trafficking without impairing the rights of Filipino citizens to travel and seek better opportunity outside the country and

• Increase funds for repatriation of migrant workers and OFWs in distress as mandated by RA 8042 or the Magna Carta for Overseas Filipinos and Migrant Workers Act of 1995, amended by RA 10022

• Increase funding for effective reintegration programs

B. Children

• Ensure implementation of free, efficient and effective birth registration for all children

• Ensure the accountability of perpetrators of human rights violations in relation to the war on drugs

• Maintain 15 years old as MACR and full implementation of Juvenile Justice Law regarding protection of the rights of children in conflict with the law (CICL) and children at risk (CAR)

• Protect children from all forms of exploitation and violence, including their recruitment in local conflicts

C. Women

• Full implementation of the RH Law, including ensuring adequate budget allocation

• Support and improve women’s equal access to agricultural information and training, and ensure that mitigation and adaptation strategies to climate change meet the needs of women as well as men

• Ensure full implementation of VAWC and develop and activate fully-functional women (and gender) desks

D. Workers

• Ensure that the minimum wage is commensurate with the prevailing cost of living, as well as standards of living that fulfill the rights and dignity of a person.

• Create adequate decent job opportunities for its workers to address migration out of necessity, particularly for women workers to increase their labor participation rate.

• Amend provisions in the Labor Code that allow the practice of contractualization among employers.

• Improve and monitor the health and safety conditions in workplaces.’

• Implement all recommendations of CMW10 and CEDAW11 to Philippine government in the 2023 revalida sessions in March and October respectively in regard to ESCR of OFWs and their families.

E. Urban Poor

• Repeal the Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino Housing (4PH) Program and strengthen the Community Mortgage Program (CMP).

• Implement in-city relocation programs that are accessible to the poor and prohibit inhumane demolition of homes; cease “development” projects that only promote urban gentrification and exclusion of the poor from the city.

• Deprivatize and regulate basic utilities such as electricity and water.

• Develop a national monitoring system that reflects the true state of poverty and inequalities among the population.

F. Indigenous Peoples

Respect the rights of indigenous peoples and the right to self-determination of Moro and non-Moro people.

• Fully implement free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC) as provided by IPRA

• Ensure respect and protection of indigenous peoples particularly in assertion of the right to ancestral domain by adoption or strengthening of appropriate policies and/or legal instruments at the national level.

• Development projects should not encroach upon ancestral domains

• Recognition that the ancestral lands of indigenous peoples and their communities should be protected from activities that are environmentally unsound or that the indigenous people concerned consider to be socially and culturally inappropriate.

• Recognition of indigenous peoples’ values, traditional knowledge, and resource management practices with a view to promoting environmentally sound development.

• Conduct a participatory review which will look into how the policies and programs of various agencies working on education and culture are anchored on indigenous learning and knowledge systems, traditional knowledge, indigenous cultures and values and indigenous worldviews and respect for the rights of indigenous peoples to self-determination and culture

• Development and establishment of a special curriculum intended for indigenous peoples

• Stop penalizing home birthing in IP communities

• Fast track the processing of ancestral domain claims

• Ensure the genuine and effective implementation of the IP Mandatory Representation Mechanism

G. Persons with Disabilities

• Recognize rights of PWDs and their contribution to development and nation- building

• Full and appropriate implementation of RA 7277 An Act Providing for the Rehabilitation and Self-Development and Self Reliance of Disabled Persons and their Integration into Mainstream Society and For Other Purposes

• Put in place a conducive physical environment to ensure accessibility to public transportation along with the full and appropriate implementation of BP 344 on Enhancing Mobility for Disabled Persons

• Ensure full provision of auxiliary support services

• Ensure inclusive social services to PWDs including health, education etc.

• Include representatives from the PWD in the development of Disaster Risk Reduction Management programs

• Address PWD concerns on new Mental Health Law

• Address concerns on discriminatory Rules of Courts

• PWD Women Rights Equality Issues in Family and Civil Codes

H. Lesbian, Gays, Bisexuals, Transgenders, Queer, Intersex, Asexual Plus (LGBTQIA+)

• Enact the Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Equality Bill

• Decisively address hate crimes

• Ensure equal access to education and work

• Expansion of HIV services available to LGBTs

I. Senior Citizens

• Full and appropriate implementation of Senior Citizen’s Act

• Allow for voluntary retirement

• Improve pension that will be sufficient to the needs of older people

• Expansion of range of services made available to senior citizens.

6. PROMOTION AND PROTECTION OF RIGHTS OF HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS

• Respect UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders

• Stop harassment and repression of HRDs

• Enactment of the Human Rights Defenders Protection bill that gives:

o Exercise of the right of anyone, acting individually or in association with others, to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms

o Protection of HRDs against strategic lawsuits against public participation or SLAPP suit;

o Special attention on ICT/internet policies which renders restriction to exercise right to freedom of expression

• Localization of protection mechanisms for HRDs

• Stop red-tagging and work for the review and repeal of provisions of the Anti - Terror Law (ATA) that curtail freedoms and violate due process

• Investigate killings of HRDs including those that were archived towards breaking impunity.

• Revoke Executive Order No. 70 and Securities and Exchange Commission Memorandum Circular No. 15 that curtails freedom of association and violates data privacy.

7. ATTAINMENT OF SUSTAINABLE AND INCLUSIVE PEACE AND SECURITY

• Human rights based and people- centered peace and security measures

• Respect the right to self-determination of Moro and non-Moro people.

• Reform the state security sector i.e., disarm and disband of CAFGUs and all other similar paramilitary and private armed groups; and

• Create and promote an inclusive peace process

• Push for genuine rehabilitation and conflict areas and IDP

• Ensuring that in the pursuit of peace and security, rights of vulnerable groups are not violated

• Protection of community; ensure a public health response

8. ENFORCEMENT OF FOOD SOVEREIGNTY, DECENT LIVELIHOOD AND SUSTAINABLE HOUSING

Advance economic rights towards fulfillment of State obligations on the promotion and protection

of economic, social and cultural rights.

• Uphold the human rights principles of the Sustainable Development Goals and integrate it with the Medium-Term Development Plan that will result to inclusive growth and uplift people’s lives especially among the marginalized sectors

• No one should go hungry – affordable, quality food and sustainable sources must be made accessible to all.

• Enact right to adequate food bill otherwise known as Zero Hunger bill

• Ensure and guarantee right to education - access to public education, including tertiary level, especially by rural youth

• Develop policy instruments for the design and implementation of decent work principles as embodied in the International Labor Organization (ILO) four strategic objectives, with gender equality as a crosscutting objective: promoting jobs, guaranteeing rights at work, extending social protection; and promoting social dialogue

• Access to essential services such as power, water, and information and communication technology.

• End contractualization and labor-only contracting

• Full implementation of all laws and policies concerning health in conformity with international standards on the Right to Health

o (Universal Health Care for all Filipinos, Mental Health Law, Extended Maternity Leave, Amended HIV-AIDS Law, Cancer Control Act, etc.)

• Review the implementation of TRAIN Law and other regressive tax measures.

9. ENFORCEMENT OF LAWS TOWARDS A HEALTHY AND SAFE ENVIRONMENT

In cognizance with the constitutional provision that “(t)he State shall protect and advance the right of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology in accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature.” (Article 2, Section 16, of the Philippine Constitution)

• Immediately enact the three green bills:

o National Land Use Act (NLUA)

o Forest Resources Bill (FRB)

o Alternative Minerals Management Bill (AMMB) for mining

• On Extractive industries:

o Scrap Mining Act 1995/EO 79

o Moratorium on all mining operations

o Revoke EO270-A

o Revoke National Minerals Mining Action Plan

• Ensure assistance to those affected by floods, typhoons and make a comprehensive plan to relocate those living in danger zones.

• Stop use of coal and other fossil fuels and adopt a comprehensive clean energy policy. Look at government led use of wind, solar and other clean energy sources when building infrastructures such as hospitals and others.

10. ENFORCEMENT OF A PEOPLE-CENTERED DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

• Develop the National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights

• Create and institutionalize mechanisms for corporate accountability including of concerns on climate justice, abuse of labor force, displacement of Indigenous Peoples and Farmers,

• Promotion of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights

• Active participation in the development of an International Binding Treaty on Transnational Corporation (UN Human Rights Council Resolution 26/93)

11. PROTECTION AGAINST FOREIGN AGGRESSION AND EXPLOITATION

• Pursue an independent foreign policy that is responsive to the needs of the Filipino people and cognizant of sovereign and patrimony rights.

• Assert the right to our own territory as well as upholding the UNCLOS ruling regarding the West Philippine Sea

• Uphold the provision in the Constitution on foreign military bases in the country and the presence of foreign military troops which poses a threat to public welfare.

• Reject unequal security agreements with foreign powers that are detrimental to the welfare of the Filipino people.

12. REALIZATION OF THE RIGHT TO SELF-DETERMINATION OF PEOPLES

• Respect the rights of indigenous peoples and the right to self-determination of Moro and non-Moro indigenous people.

• Fully implement free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC) as provided by IPRA

• Ensure the respect and protection of the right of indigenous peoples to their ancestral domain by implementing relevant policies and/or legal instruments at the national level.

• Prohibit the establishment of destructive development projects that threaten the social and cultural rights of indigenous peoples and exploit natural resources

• Support indigenous values, traditional knowledge, and resource management practices that promote environmentally sound development.

• Conduct a participatory review education programs and develop a curriculum anchored on indigenous learning and knowledge systems, cultures, and values and highlights the rights of indigenous peoples to self-determination and culture

• Stop the penalization of home birthing in IP communities

• Prioritize and fast track the processing of ancestral domain claims

• Ensure the genuine and effective implementation of the IP Mandatory Representation Mechanism

• Promote the recognition and non-discrimination of the Bangsamoro individual and collective Civil, Political, Economic, Cultural and Social Rights

• Uphold Democratic and Participatory principles in the rehabilitation of Marawi City and support reparation for the victims of Marawi siege

• Ensure democratic and Inclusive BARMM Governance and reinforce the implementation of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (RA 11504/BOL)

• Advocate for an empowered, independent, and responsive Bangsamoro Human Rights Commission that asserts the Right to Self-Determination and employs a Human Rights framework

• Maintain the non-interference of the National Government in the BARMM democratic affairs

• Support the Non-postponement and the safe and fair conduct of the BARMM Regional Elections

• Assert the Freedom of Religion.