CONTEXT
The Philippines is marked by stark inequality, a patriarchal culture supported by social, religious and cultural norms and politics dominated by the elite.
State violence and political repression are commonly used tactics to silence dissent. The country faces high maternal and child mortality, high levels of adolescent pregnancy and pervasive sexual and gender-based violence. Women and youth lack access to reproductive healthcare and education because of social stigma, insufficient public funding and limited services. In the countryside, land ownership and distribution are deeply intertwined with political power and socio-economic status. Landgrabs remain a pressing issue.
Despite these challenges, civil society remains a vibrant and essential force in advocating for human rights, addressing social and environmental issues, and shaping governance.
Many groups—such as our counterparts Likhaan Center for Women’s Health and Focus on the Global South—continue to work towards more just, equal societies with rights at the core.
OUR WORK IN THE PHILIPPINES
We collaborate with the Likhaan Center for Women’s Health to provide free, high-quality sexual and reproductive health care to women and youth from some of the most marginalized communities in the Philippines.
Likhaan also creates hubs for community organizing and advocates at the national level for changes in health policy. More broadly, we work with Focus on the Global South to support civil society groups to organize and resist regressive economic measures, including trade policies and the lack of implementation of agrarian reform.
Inter Pares acknowledges Global Affairs Canada for its financial support for our work with Likhaan in the Philippines.
