KARAPATAN is an alliance of individuals, groups and organizations working for the promotion and protection of human rights in the Philippines. Its founders and members have been at the forefront of the human rights struggle in the Philippines since the time of Marcos’ martial law regime.

KARAPATAN is an alliance of individuals, groups and organizations working for the promotion and protection of human rights in the Philippines. Its founders and members have been at the forefront of the human rights struggle in the Philippines since the time of Marcos’ martial law regime.

KARAPATAN was founded by its member organizations in 1995 (when the former umbrella organization no longer satisfied the needs of its member organizations and of the people’s organizations it was supposed to serve). Set up to respond to the needs of its member organizations, KARAPATAN has very close linkages with them.

KARAPATAN firmly believes that…
– Human rights should be respected in all dimensions – civil and political, economic, social and cultural.
– Basic rights to life, humane treatment, and due process should be preserved at all times.
– The people has the right to be free from all forms of oppression and exploitation.
– A repressive state which serves the interests of a few oppressors and exploiters are the worse violator of human rights.
– The struggle of the Filipino people for national liberation and social emancipation provides the framework for human rights advocacy.
– Human rights advocacy must be biased for the interest of the oppressed classes, sectors, and groups.
– Human rights advocacy is integral to the struggle of the peasants for land, the workers for national industrialization and decent living and working conditions, the women against exploitation and discrimination, the indigenous peoples for self-determination, the poor for basic social services, and the youth for access to education and other venues for growth and development.