In a move to further consolidate its ranks, the Philippine NGO-PO Network for ESC Rights held its first and founding General Assembly on June 4, 2010 at the Fersal Place in Quezon City, Philippines. Around sixty (60) delegates from different people’s organizations (POs) and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) attended the said historical event and expressed their willingness to be part of the network.
The delegates agreed that the group should be a “broad multi-sectoral movement organized as a network” advocating for the respect, protection, and fulfillment of economic, social, and cultural (ESC) rights.
In terms of structure, the general assembly decided that the second highest policy-making body would be the Council of Leaders (COL) who would come from the following “themes” or clusters: work, housing, education, food and water, health and social protection, self-determination, development, and gender equality.
Members of the network would be grouped according to these clusters depending on their respective mandates and preferences.
The COL would also designate the heads of the following committees: education, campaigns, membership, finance / logistics, and legal.
The following organizations were elected as members of the Council of Leaders:
Work – Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP) and Saligan;
Housing – Kongreso ng Pagkakaisa ng mga Maralita ng Lungsod (KPML) and Koalisyong Pabahay ng Pilipinas (KPP);
Education – Samahan ng Demokratikong Kabataan (SDK) and Education Network;
Food and water – Aniban ng mga Manggagawa sa Agrikultura (AMA) and Freedom from Debt Coalition (FDC);
Health and social protection – Medical Action Group (MAG) and HomeNet;
Self-determination – Task Force Detainees of the Philippines (TFDP) and Panagtagbo;
Development – Global Campaign Against Poverty (GCAP) and FDC;
and Gender equality – Children’s Legal Rights and Development (CLRD) and Batis Aware.
Lastly, the network members mandated the creation of a steering committee that would coordinate and oversee the day-to-day operations of the group. The following organizations were designated as members of the said committee: Philippine Human Rights Information Center (PhilRights), FDC, TFDP, ESCR-Asia, BMP, GCAP, Alyansa ng Mamamayang Naghihirap (Almana), and Batis Aware.
Read more :
Human Rights Situation in the Philippines: An Overview
- Philippine Network for Economic, Social, and Cultural (ESC) Rights
- General program of action
- Towards building a broad social movement for ESC Rights
