Last April 7 2018, Lilak was invited in the Philippine Model Congress – Ateneo . 80 senior high school student from different Jesuit high schools and universities in the country attended the said event.
Ms. Judy Pasimio, Coordinator of LILAK Purple Action, started her speech by explaining as to who are the indigenous peoples and the challenges they are experiencing in asserting their rights.
According to Ms. Pasimio, “land grabbing and intensified land conflicts caused more destruction of the remaining forests and natural resources in the ancestral domain of the Indigenous people and had worsen poverty in the communities. The remaining natural resource within their territories continue to bring in militarization, greedy multinational corporations and has caused deaths of indigenous rights defenders.
She also added that, “Duterte’s latest remark on shooting the female rebels in the vagina implies that women are useless without their genitals, openly encouraging violence against women. He has normalized violence against women by publicly shaming them. He has repeatedly encourage rape and has targeted and persecuted women who dare challenge his administration.”
He is institutionalizing the state to commit more human rights violations and abuses of humanitarian law. Given all of these, we shall continue to persevere, resist and enlighten our communities to promote awareness and engagement among the youth in the different aspects of Philippines’ society.