Philippines–Canada Task Force on Human Rights

Description

The Philippines–Canada Task Force on Human Rights is a Canadian human rights group that expresses solidarity with the Filipino people. It formed in Vancouver in 2006 as a coalition of progressive Filipino organizations from across Canada, as part of a wider international campaign to stop political killings in the Philippines. The group organized a fact-finding mission to the Philippines in November 2006.

Nine Canadians, including lawyers, a teacher, a nurse and other community organizers, visited victims of political killings and repression and split into subgroups covering Metro Manila, Cordillera, Southern Tagalog and Central Luzon. They met with members of Congress, senators and the Canadian ambassador to the Philippines. Three delegation members were detained by the military for several hours during the mission, drawing national and international attention.

The task force concluded that the government and armed forces of the Philippines were responsible for extrajudicial political killings between 2001 and 2006 and called on Canada to suspend its foreign aid until the situation improved. In Canada it organizes presentations, screenings, concerts and meetings with members of parliament to raise awareness of human rights in the Philippines.