Communique
From the B.C. Committee for Human Rights in the Philippines 2009 Annual General Meeting

Grassroots Canadian support for the Filipino people’s struggle for human rights grows; local solidarity group holds successful annual meeting

February 9, 2009

 
On February 1, 2009 the B.C. Committee for Human Rights in the Philippines (BCCHRP) held its Annual General Meeting with other 50 members and supporters participating in the meeting.

The AGM featured a sharing from the recently concluded Vancouver & District Labour Council (VDLC) Solidarity tour to the Philippines from November 20 to December 14, 2008. They met communities and organizers from different regions in the country -- getting first-hand knowledge of the Filipino people's experience with globalization and their struggle for genuine human rights.

Speakers from the tour delegation included VDLC President Bill Saunders, Carol Nordby of CUPE Local 389, and Laarni delos Reyes of the B.C. Committee for Human Rights in the Philippines. Also joining the speakers to share their insights and experiences on the tour were members of the delegation, Murray Martin and Monica Urrutia of the Philippine Women Centre of B.C. and a staff member of the Public Service Alliance of Canada.

Member of Legislative Assembly of Burnaby-Edmonds, Raj Chouhan and Member of Parliament of Burnaby-New Westminster, Peter Julian attended part of the sharing.

The sharing from the tour delegates helped to set the tone and framework for the local solidarity group’s 2009 general meeting. The tour delegates revealed some of the latest political and economic developments in the Philippines – including the proliferation of foreign-owned call centres and the current struggles of workers, from teachers to ship-builders, against globalization. The delegates made important insights on the economic and political connections between the Filipino people’s harsh experiences with globalization and foreign interests of the Canadian government and private enterprises.

The delegation related their view of how the lack of genuine development and the deterioration of democracy in the Philippines are directly linked to the growing number of Filipino foreign temporary workers being brought to Canada by the Canadian government and businesses interested in cheap labour.

The delegates sharing also highlighted the resiliency and spirit of resistance apparent in the Filipino people. All the speakers shared how they personally witnessed and were inspired by the brave organizing work and resistance of ordinary Filipinos engaged in life-and-death struggles for their legitimate rights, genuine human rights and freedom.

The sharing provided a good context for the discussions and planning that followed.

Members of BCCHRP’s Coordinating Committee, the highest-decision making body of the organization between Annual General Meetings, began the AGM with a review of the human rights situation both in the Philippines to provide its membership with some updates on the current state of human rights in the country. The deteriorating state of human rights and democracy in the Philippines unraveled in the context of the worsening economic and political global crisis. From the financial crisis to on-going wars of occupation and plunder led by the U.S. and its allies, people the world over have born the brunt of the bankruptcy of neo-liberal policies and wars of aggression. The situationer highlighted the important need for the solidarity group to be grounded in the worsening global economic and political situation in order to truly understand the deteriorating state of human rights and democracy in the Philippines.

The membership then heard a report of the organization’s grassroots work in 2008. The report shared the two inter-related focuses of its program last year, which were i) to deepen the organization’s understanding of the human rights situation in the Philippines and how it relates to the political and economic system in the country and globally; and ii) to build the group’s individual and organizational capacity. Both these undertakings were meant to help BCCHRP continue and launch new initiatives to help build genuine support among Canadians and Filipino-Canadians for the Filipino people's struggle for human rights.

In 2008, BCCHRP carried out a variety of work to help to build a grassroots movement among Canadians and the Filipino community in support of the Filipino people’s struggle for genuine human rights and democracy by launching several initiatives in the areas of education and capacity-building, raising public awareness, alliance-building, and building its self-reliance and strengthening the organization.

In general, the group agreed that 2008 was a pivotal year for BCCHRP, with the organization reaching a newer and higher level of unity in its understanding and practice of building genuine support and solidarity for the Philippines.

On this positive note, members set about the task of planning its program for 2009. After agreeing to amendments in its constitution, members united on the organization’s 2009 vision of building people-to-people solidarity with those struggling for genuine human rights, peace and freedom in the Philippines as part of the growing people's movement for a just and lasting peace worldwide.

As part of BCCHRP’s plan of action for the year, members agreed that it is of the utmost urgency that the group continue to bring forward its four demands, with the Philippines-Canada Task Force on Human Rights (PCTFHR) to all levels of Canadian governments:

1. Review its current relations with and withdraw all military aid, bilateral aid and multilateral aid to the Philippine government while the political killings and other violations of human rights continue to occur;

2. Redirect partnership aid towards progressive community-based groups that advocate genuine development and uphold human rights and the dignity of life;

3. Pressure the Philippine government to respect international human rights covenants and agreements;

4. Hold a Parliamentary Hearing on the human rights situation in the Philippines.

Overall, BCCHRP’s 2009 AGM helped to consolidate the organization and its gains in 2008. The opportunity to assess its work and plan ahead helped to move the organization’s work of building grassroots solidarity forward. As the state of human rights and democracy deteriorates in the Philippines and the world, BCCHRP hopes that its momentum and renewed resolve will help contribute to the growing people’s global movement for genuine justice and peace.

To view photos of the event, click here

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