Promoting Human Rights: A Project for the Philippines

September 21 - 24, 2014

About The Philippines

Foreign policy in the Philippines focuses on security, promoting economic diplomacy, protection of Filipinos abroad and fostering Filipino nationalism [1]. The Philippines emphasizes their relationships with their Asian neighbors by linking in memberships that include the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Defense Ministers Meetings, East Asia Summit (EAS) and APEC [1]. In 2006, the Philippines signed their first bilateral free trade agreement with Japan (JPEPA). President Duterte, as of June 2016, has caused controversial problems and set backs in human rights and rule of law. The "war on drugs" is based on a violent platform, supporting "death squads" and the killing of any drug related person or suspect [2]. It has caused the death of thousands, with minimal efforts on accountability [3].

About the Program

The IVLP is a professional exchange program that seeks to build mutual understanding between the U.S. and other nations through carefully designed short-term visits to the U.S. for current and emerging foreign leaders. Over the last 70 years, the IVLP has developed into the premier professional exchange program in the U.S. and brings over 200 emerging leaders to Jacksonville every year.

[1] http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/philippines/forrel.htm

[2]https://www.hrw.org/asia/philippines

[3] https://www.hrw.org/news/2016/11/02/philippine-presidents-war-drugs-leaves-thousands-dead