Manila, Philippines, 13 October 2022 – Diplomats, government officials, and representatives of other development institutions expressed their commitment in strengthening civil society participation in development and democratic processes in a multi-stakeholder dialogue with people’s organisations and civil society organisations (CSOs) hosted by the Council for People’s Development and Governance (CPDG) and IBON International.
CPDG Spokesperson Liza Maza presented the CSO Manifesto for Enabling and Strengthening Civic Space in the Philippines (see Box 1), which contains key demands for improving civic spaces and people’s engagement in development and democratic processes at multiple levels. “Our work as activists, people’s organisations, and civil society are threatened by a prevailing culture of impunity,” Maza said. “It is urgent to hold state perpetrators to account for human rights violations,” she added. The CSO Manifesto was developed in a workshop on enabling civil society organised by CPDG and IBON International on 29-30 August 2022.
Diplomats and government officials participated in the dialogue, including United Nations Human Rights Adviser Signe Poulsen, officers from the European Union (EU) Delegation, representatives from the embassies of Finland, Belgium, Argentina, and the United Kingdom. Also present in the event were officials from the Philippines’ Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), National Anti-Poverty Commission, and the Commission on Human Rights. They expressed their support to the CSO Manifesto, and reiterated their commitment in creating enabling conditions for civil society participation.
IBON International Executive Director Jennifer del Rosario Malonzo highlighted the important roles of civil society in “upholding people’s rights and sovereignty in development, and in the pursuit of social justice.” CPDG and IBON International aim to broaden support and endorsement of the Manifesto as a basic document to improve local CSO capacity for engagement at the local, national, and international levels. #
Box 1. CSO Manifesto for Enabling and Strengthening Civic Space in the Philippines
Respect, protect, defend and expand civic space to enable Philippine civil society’s contribution towards people-centred development anchored in rights and social justice.
Key Ask 1. Uphold the civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights of the people
Key Ask 2. Develop and implement policies and mechanisms that ensure the inclusive, independent, and decisive participation of CSOs in development and governance discussions, from the local to the national level
Key Ask 3. Support CSO efforts to improve their own effectiveness, transparency and accountability to the people and constituencies they serve through enabling policies, capacity development and financing
