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KARAPATAN is the major and most militant human rights alliance
in the Philippines. It is made up of human rights institutions and the rights desks of people's organizations, and the regional and provincial HR formations all over the country.
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There are a total of forty member-organizations, with the core consisting of the following national human rights institutions: Task Force Detainees of the
Philippines (TFDP), KAPATID (Association of Relatives and Friends of Political Prisoners), Ecumenical Movement for Justice and Peace (EMJP), DESAPARECIDOS (Families of the Desaparecidos for Justice) and
SELDA (Society of Ex-Detainees for Liberation from Detention and for Amnesty).
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Karapatan was formally launched in its founding congress on
August 17-19, 1995. It is actively engaged in campaigns to free all political prisoners, expose and oppose militarization and fascism, demand justice for all victims of human rights violations, assist
the HRV victims, and actively participate in other human rights struggles. It is active in the militant people's movement for national freedom and democracy.
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As an alliance of human rights organizations and programs, human
rights desks and committees of people’s organization, and individual advocates, KARPATAN is committed to the defense of people’s rights and civil liberties through:
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EDUCATION AND TRAINING
which aims to raise the people’s awareness on their rights; help develop their capacity to fight for and defend their rights; and enjoin them to participate in human rights campaign and advocacy activities. The program involves the development and propagation of education modules and seminars.
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CAMPAIGN AND ADVOCACY
which aims to develop a strong public opinion and support for human rights issues and concerns. It involves campaign and information dissemination activities. It also includes lobbying efforts for the defense and promotion of human rights.
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The SERVICES
program aims to mobilize resources for the welfare needs and legal requirements of political prisoners, torture victims, relatives of the disappeared and victims of killings, displaced families, and communities, and others. The formation of Quick Reaction Teams, which respond immediately to cases of human rights violations such as arrests, abductions, displacements, demolitions, picketline violence and others, is an integral part of the program.
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DOCUMENTATION AND RESEARCH program aims to gather information on particular cases of human rights violations and on the general state of the human rights situation in the whole
country. It sends urgent action alerts and comes out with regular analysis of the human rights situation prevailing in the country. The program will also publish KARAPATAN’s analysis on
various human rights issues and concerns..
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NETWORK
BUILDING AND ALLIANCE WORK
aims to motivate organizations, groups, and individuals to get involved in cases of human rights violations and in the activities and programs of KARAPATAN. It also establishes partnerships with genuine multisectoral alliances such as the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan, people’s organizations such as Kilusang Mayo Uno, Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas, GABRIELA, League of Filipino Students, Health Alliance for Democracy, church groups such as the Promotion of Church People’s Response, and NGOs such as the Center for Women’s Resources, and the Citizen’s Disaster and Rehabilitation Center.
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As an alliance, KARAPATAN works closely with its member
organizations. The alliance seeks to bring together the programs of the various human rights organizations under it.
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