3 party-list groups urge probe into attacks on humanitarian NGOs

MANILA, Philippines — Three party-list groups filed a resolution on Thursday urging the House of Representatives human rights committee to investigate the “escalating judicial attacks” against humanitarian and development non-government organizations (NGOs).

House Resolution No. 1985 was submitted by representatives from the ACT Teachers Party-list, the Kabataan Party-list, and the Gabriela Women’s Party.

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They were joined by the National Union of People’s Lawyers, the Council for People’s Development and Governance, and the IBON Foundation, all representing NGOs under the #DefendNGO alliance.

The group said that these attacks extend beyond humanitarian and development NGOs, targeting other human rights defenders as well.

These actions “restrict civic spaces and erode economic, social, and cultural rights of the communities they serve,” the group said.