This Labour Day, we stand with agricultural workers and all who defend their rights. PAN Asia Pacific honors the workers and activists at the forefront of the struggle for land, rights, and dignity. Today, our executive director, Sarojeni Rengam, shares her message:
“Today, as we mark Labour Day, we condemn the continuing political repression of workers and those who advocate for their rights. We join the call for justice for Errol Wendel, a 24-year-old Filipino activist working with the Union of Agricultural Workers (UMA) and Maureen Keil Santuyo, also 24, of the National Network of Agrarian Reform Advocates – Youth (NNARA-Youth). They were among the nine civilians of the 19 killed in a counterinsurgency operation by the Philippine military in the province of Negros last April 19. UMA and NNARA-Youth are two of our partners in the Philippines, where landlessness and poverty are so prevalent among farmers and agricultural workers. We believe that their killings are a violation of the International Humanitarian Law and are hopeful that, in the name of justice, those responsible will be held to account.
Labour Day is a celebration of those who produce the world’s wealth, including those working in food and agriculture. It is highly alarming that their rights and welfare are being violated with impunity in many places in the region.”
✊ Protect workers’ lives.
🌱 Support sustainable farming.
⚖️ Demand accountability.
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