Canada must champion peace and human rights in the Philippines
This year marks the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Canada and the Philippines. It’s an opportune moment for Canada to reaffirm its commitment to peace, human rights, and justice by supporting the resumption of peace talks between the Government of the Philippines (GRP) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP).
Recently, Canadian organizations—including KAIROS and the International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines (ICHRP-Canada)—urged Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to take this critical step. Their appeal underscores a pressing need for Canada to prioritize peacebuilding over militarization—particularly as concerns grow about Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy, which heavily emphasizes defence and military engagement. This strategy risks implicating Canada in systemic human rights abuses, as detailed in a recent ICHRP-Canada briefing paper.
In testimony before the House Standing Committee on National Defence on Nov. 7, ICHRP-Canada emphasized that the Indo-Pacific Strategy risks undermining the country’s reputation as a global defender of human rights.
“Human rights must be a precondition for trade and security co-operation with the Philippines,” we stated, warning that anything less risks damaging Canada’s credibility.
The decades-long conflict between the GRP and NDFP is rooted in profound social and economic inequities. In 1992, the Hague Joint Declaration provided a foundation for peace negotiations, focusing on human rights, international humanitarian law, and systemic reforms. While the peace process made progress, talks were abruptly halted in 2017 under then-president Rodrigo Duterte. His administration abandoned prior agreements, intensified counterinsurgency campaigns, and institutionalized “red-tagging,” labelling activists, journalists, and human rights defenders as terrorists.
These repressive policies persist under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Militarized counterinsurgency has led to extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, and targeted attacks on civil society. Filipino human rights defenders and church leaders—partners of Canadian churches and KAIROS—are among those most at risk.
According to Karapatan, a Philippine human rights alliance, between July 2022 and June 2024, there were 105 extrajudicial killings, 145 illegal arrests, 44,065 bombings, and 755 political prisoners.
The Philippine Anti-Terrorism Act has been weaponized to stifle dissent, causing widespread violations. In her testimony to the National Defence Committee, Karapatan’s secretary general Cristina Palabay warned that Canada’s increasing defence collaboration with the Philippines—including Status of Visiting Forces Agreement (SOVFA) negotiations—could make Canada complicit in these abuses. Palabay cautioned that Canadian troops could become entangled in counterinsurgency operations, and linked to frequent Philippine military-related abuses.
Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy—launched in 2022—commits $2.3-billion to enhance regional engagement, prioritizing defence partnerships, naval deployments, and security capacity-building. While these measures aim to bolster Canada’s presence in the region, they mark a troubling shift away from the country’s historical role as a peacekeeper and humanitarian actor. Instead, they align Canada with militarized policies that undermine its commitments to human rights and democracy.
Canada’s foreign policy must align with the “Voices at Risk” guidelines, which emphasize protecting human rights defenders and advancing women’s participation in peace processes. Economic and military interests cannot take precedence over human dignity and peace. Supporting the resumption of GRP-NDFP peace talks—reaffirmed by both parties in October 2023—is a crucial step.
We, along with other civil society organizations, Canadian churches, and human rights advocates call on Canada to align its actions with its stated values, and demand that the Philippine government address ongoing human rights violations. Canada must ensure its financial, programmatic, and technical support adheres to international human rights standards. Additionally, it must suspend negotiations on the SOVFA and halt the Memorandum of Understanding on Enhanced Defence Co-operation until conditions improve.
These calls are grounded in deep ties with our partners in the Philippines. They remind us of decades of violence, displacement, and repression endured by Filipinos. Supporting peace talks is not merely a strategic choice; it is a moral imperative.
As Canada and the Philippines celebrate 75 years of diplomatic relations, this milestone presents a critical choice. A foreign policy rooted in militarization risks perpetuating human rights violations and undermining Canada’s credibility as a global defender of democracy and human dignity. Championing peace and justice strengthens bilateral ties and affirms Canadian values. Canada must seize this moment to prioritize human rights and peace. Anything less risks eroding decades of goodwill—a backward step in Canada’s relationship with the Philippines.
By Jess Agustin, the campaign committee lead of International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines Canada; and Rachel Warden, the Partnerships Manager at KAIROS Canada. This Op-Ed was published in The Hill Times on December 9, 2024, and appeared in December 10 print edition.
