Reflections from Communities HR Defenders

The “Joint Action for Land Rights” is a project jointly implemented by the Asian NGO Coalition for Agrarian Reform and Rural Development (ANGOC), Balay Alternative Legal Advocates for Development in Mindanaw, Inc. (BALAOD Mindanaw), Solidarity Towards Agrarian Reform and Rural Development (Kaisahan), and People In Need (PIN). JALR contributes to the work of civil society organizations, including human rights organizations, working with vulnerable and socially excluded groups. Its particular focus is on supporting the empowerment of farmers and indigenous peoples to claim their rights, including protecting the rights of human rights defenders (HRDs). The project is supported by the European Union’s European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EU-EIDHR).

Prepared by ANGOC, this document summarizes the insights of the 22 representatives of farmers and indigenous peoples partner organizations of BALAOD Mindanaw and Kaisahan, who actively participated in the Exchange Visit of Land Rights Defenders last 29 November to 01 December 2017 in San Vicente, Sumilao, Bukidnon. These members from community-based organizations in Leyte, Negros Occidental, Misamis Oriental, and Bukidnon were involved in various activities of the JALR Project: either as training participants, Project Sub-grantees or recipients of the Protection Fund, or participants of policy dialogues and local media workshops. Special thanks to Ms. Darlene L. Madrona for the documentation of the said exchange visit, as well as PIN and the project staff of BALAOD Mindanaw and Kaisahan for assisting ANGOC in facilitating the focus group discussions designed for this publication.