IN THE RECENT 43rd United Nations Human Rights Council sessions in Geneva, Switzerland, a delegation of human rights defenders from the Philippines sounded alarm over the human rights situation in the country.
One of the delegation members, speaking on behalf of environmental activists, expressed concern over what’s happening in Negros. Upland and coastal communities are facing possible eviction due to encroachment of mining corporations, conversion of agricultural lands into corporate plantations, establishment of industrial economic zones.
Such so-called developments could displace thousands of poor families and destroy Negros’ remaining forests and coral reefs, warned Clarissa Ramos of Paghida-et sa Kauswagan Development Group.
This matter should not be taken lightly. At the very least, local authorities in Negros – and concerned national government agencies – should look into the matter.
Overall, Filipino environmental defenders appealed for an independent investigation, and not just on the Negros situation but on what’s happening in other parts of the country, including attacks on environmental defenders. In the course of conserving our natural resources and defending communities from big mining companies, commercial loggers, and agro-corporations, they are being targeted.
Environmental group Kalikasan reported that there were 157 killed, 11 enforced disappearances, and 106 arrested on trumped up charges among environmentalists since 2016. The statistics should be viewed with alarm in the context that the Philippines is one of the 110 countries that legislated the principles of the right to safe, healthy, clean, and sustainable environment. In fact, we have different laws and mechanisms such as the Writ of Kalikasan and “green courts” to hasten the process of environmental cases.
However, despite these formal guarantees, the people’s right to a balanced and healthful ecology continue to be violated; the Philippines is identified as having one of the fastest rate of biodiversity loss in the world. In 2018 we were cited as the most dangerous place for environmental defenders by international watchdog Global Witness.
There are serious challenges to life, security and liberty of environmental defenders, which redound to transgressions on the rights to a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment of communities, including that of indigenous peoples.
So yes, discussions on human rights should also include what’s happening to our environmental defenders – an area that is sadly not given much attention.
