Support ICHRP-PDX's Fight for Human Rights

Members & organizations of the Portland chapter of the International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines (ICHRP) are fundraising to attend ICHRP-US’s National Assembly in Washington, DC this December. ICHRP is a global network of organizations concerned about the human rights situation in the Philippines and committed to campaigning for just and lasting peace in the country. The National Assembly is an opportunity to unite on our campaign work, assess our strategies over the past several years, and determine our plans to strengthen our solidarity and resistance in the years to come.

In the context of escalating attacks on political, social, and economic rights in the Philippines, the imperative for solidarity and resistance grows. The path toward peace, human rights, and justice–long established by the Filipino people–continues to necessitate the solidarity of the international community.

On October 6th, ICHRP-US faith organizer and Portland Committee for Human Rights in the Philippines (PCHRP) Chairperson Copeland Downs traveled to the Philippines to attend a human rights conference; however, when he arrived to the airport, he was denied entry to the Philippines and told he had been blacklisted from the country. ICHRP-US views this blacklisting as a clear retaliation against Copeland for his role in investigating and documenting the fraudulent Philippine presidential elections in 2022.

This incident demonstrates the effectiveness of our human rights and solidarity work as ICHRP-PDX, and it signals to us the need to fight even harder as political repression intensifies. Participating in the National Assembly alongside ICHRP-US members from all over the country– and organizers waging the struggle on the ground in the Philippines– will be critical to ICHRP-PDX's ability to effectively contribute to this movement and broaden solidarity support for the Philippines locally.

Not all of us can independently afford the costs of the plane tickets, lodging, and conference registration fee. To collectively overcome this barrier for our grassroots organizations and low-income members, we need to raise $8,000 and are humbly asking for support from our partners in the struggle for justice. Thank you so much for your support!