Campaign Momentum! Human Rights Abuses in the Philippines Scrutinised by Australian Senate!

Thanks to the solidarity of hundreds of Australian union members who rallied on the streets, wrote letters of protest, and attended advocacy talks from visiting Filipino unionists, trade union repression in the Philippines has been called to the attention of the Australian government! 👏

In the video below, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) representatives take questions from Senator Tim Ayers on Australia’s knowledge of human rights abuses under the Duterte government, and how they are responding to the attacks on Filipino trade unionists.

The Duterte regime has repeatedly used ‘counter-terrorism’ operations as a means of suppressing trade union members, human rights defenders, and environmental activists. Since President Duterte’s rise to power, more than forty-three trade union members and leaders have been murdered, and countless others have been threatened with violence and falsely charged. A further 27,000 civilians have been extra-judicially killed under Duterte’s ‘war on drugs’.

Despite these widespread human rights abuses, the Australian Government has offered the Duterte regime increased military support through the Enhanced Military Cooperation Program.

Union Aid Abroad – APHEDA, together with the Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union (AMWU) has called on the Australian government to audit its military relationship with the Duterte regime to ensure Australian funds are not contributing to human rights violations and trade union repression.