The Union of Peoples’ Lawyers in Mindanao (UPLM) marks International Human Rights Day with a condemnation of the deepening systemic crisis in the Philippines, where human rights violations are linked to corruption and a fascist government response. The UPLM stands in solidarity with human rights defenders and marginalized sectors, particularly the Lumad people, in the struggle against a corrupt and oppressive system. Corruption by government officials has deprived people of social services, such as healthcare, education, and social safety nets, and has fueled violence, including the subjugation of local communities and the destruction of ancestral domains. The government’s response to people’s resistance has been brutal, with counterinsurgency campaigns, red-tagging, and extrajudicial killings. The UPLM demands that the government stop fascist repression, prosecute the corrupt, respect indigenous rights, and uphold accountability. The organization remains committed to utilizing the power of the law and the power of the people to resist a corrupt and fascistic system and struggle for a society where every Filipino’s right to life, liberty, and dignified living is upheld.
