Discussions on land rights are far more complex than merely being economic in nature. While being a source of livelihood, land is also a source of identity; hence, assertion of land rights touches on a number of social and cultural rights as well.

Recently, Global Witness released a report that puts the Philippines on the list as the most dangerous place for land rights activists and defenders in the world, with at least 30 allegedly being murdered for this cause.

The same study, using 2018 data, includes the killing of nine (9) sugarcane farmers in Sagay, Negros Occidental.

As such, we urge the government to look into these reports as part of its mandate to protect the rights of all Filipinos, especially the vulnerable and marginalised who often are powerless before violences perpetrated by industries. In some cases, we are also talking about indigenous peoples fighting for their land.

Land disputes are often violent—causing unpeace in communities. We need to be able to see that laws, such as Indigenous People’s Rights Act and the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program, being faithfully implemented to the benefit of the people and as a protection against scheming corporations.

At the same time, we remind businesses of their nature as a secondary duty-bearer, who equally holds the obligation to respect and protect the rights of peoples by preventing, addressing, and ensuring remedy for human rights abuses that may arise due to their operations. ###