KADUAMI - Web of Safety & Care-Women HR Full Project Title: Building a Web of Safety and Care for Women Human Rights Defenders

The change that this project wishes to contribute is that the RHGs regained their confidence to continue perform their roles in their respective works. The constantthreats they experienced are significantly reduced. The change is basically at the level of the
individuals that has an impact at the organizational and social level. At the individual level, the RHG are indicating increase in confidence because of established web of support. The red-tagging and vilification against the RGHs that proliferated during the pandemic period and had worsened overtime would decrease when they are given the opportunity to countermeasures with their access to legal support. The RHGs experienced red-tagging through makeshift posters, leafleting, tarpaulins, painting on public infrastructure (i.e.waiting sheds, walls, etc.) and posting malicious information online proliferated during the pandemic. A woman leader from Isabela accounted that her name appeared seven hundred (700) times in different posters in different areas. Another leader from Isabela was also visited by military agents twenty-five (25) times at her home. A leader from Cagayan also reported that she was interrogatedfor a whole month by military agents who camped near their house. She narrated that they talked to her from morning to afternoon even when she was doing household chores. Family members are witnesses to the abuses. In La Union province, the daughter of aPO leader broke down in tears when military kept on visiting their home and continuously interrogating his mother. In Cagayan province, the son of a woman leader had a heated argument and confrontation with a military officer for repeatedly harassing hismother. In Ilocos Norte, the son of a peasant leader was interrogated in his own school. The military officers kept on asking the whereabouts of his mother and father who had been in sanctuary. In thesame province, a daughter was with her friends attendinga church activity when military officers cornered her, andshe was asked to answer questions. This prompted the girl not to attend church activities in the meantime. In all these incidents, human rights defenders need to be safe and protected in doingtheirwork. Human rights defense is essential in achieving food security and human development. It is in this context that KADUAMI’s effort will focus on this. Within the organization, KADUAMI improved its
human rights work by creating a web of support that caters to victims of human rights violations in its scope of work in Northern Luzon. With established linkages to professional service providers and a community support system, the rightsholders group can address mental health concerns and can refer membersof the community that need professional intervention. They can acquire knowledge and skills from trainings that provides livelihood opportunities for RHGs that lost the source of income. RHGs who are facing judicial harassment can seeklegal representation from lawyers. A community support system is in place initiated by family members and advocates of the RHGs andare active in campaign and advocacy.