#DefendTogether International Human Rights Day Commemoration December 10, 2019
Dear Friends,
Greetings of peace and solidarity!
This year, we will be marking International Human Rights Day on December 10 in the midst of even graver challenges to our hard-won rights and freedoms.
With Pres. Duterte’s firing of Vice Pres. Robredo from the Inter-Agency Council on Drugs (ICAD) and his call for the next police chief to ensure that drug lords are killed, there appears to be no let up in the drug- related killings and human rights atrocities.
In fact, the tokhang-style killings and tanim-ebidensya police operations have been carried over to the counter-insurgency program under the newly-created Task Force to End the Local Communist Armed Conflict. The TF-ECLAC has launched a crackdown on activists and their organizations. They are villified, intimidated and charged with made up crimes in order to silence dissent and organized resistance.
Even the opposition, religious leaders, and the media are not spared from the crackdown. Anyone who dares to criticize and resist the Duterte regime’s corruption, flawed economic policies and growing authoritarianism is targetted.
In the face of these and many more challenges, let us come together in solidarity to uphold human rights. On December 10, please join us in the following events:
Mass for the Victims of EJKs and Human Rights Violations
1-2:30pm, Sta. Cruz Church, Manila
#DefendTogether Human Rights Day Rally
3-5pm, Liwasang Bonifacio, Manila 5-6pm, march to Mendiola Bridge, Manila
Your presence in these activities will be highly appreciated. Please feel free to invite your families, friends and others in your network to join us.
