The Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (PAHRA) joined grassroots movements, antiwar coalitions, and civil society organizations in a People’s Forum and protest opposing the agenda of the World Economic Forum, as global political and corporate elites convened in Davos, Switzerland. The action highlighted how neoliberal economic policies and imperialist wars pushed by the WEF deepen inequality, climate injustice, and human rights violations worldwide.

PAHRA emphasized that profit-driven policies promoted by global elites erode public services, worsen poverty, and normalize militarization. For countries like the Philippines, these translate into rising prices, insecure livelihoods, shrinking civic space, and increased exposure to foreign military interests that threaten national sovereignty and the people’s right to peace.

“Human rights cannot exist in an economic system that treats people as expendable and countries as pawns,” said PAHRA Secretary-General Edgar Cabalitan. “When policies are dictated by billionaires and war-makers, the result is hunger, displacement, and violence. This is not global cooperation, this is global exploitation.”

Cabalitan added in Filipino, “Hindi kami papayag na ang kinabukasan ng mamamayang Pilipino ay idikta ng mga elitista sa Davos. Ang mga patakarang ito ay nagbubunga ng kahirapan, digmaan, at patuloy na pagyurak sa inequality and imperialist wars is inseparable from the struggle for human rights. The alliance called on the Philippine government to reject neoliberal prescriptions, oppose foreign militarization, and prioritize people-centered policies that uphold dignity, accountability, and social justice.

The protest forms part of a growing global movement asserting that genuine democracy and peace can only be built from the ground up, led by communities, workers, youth, and human rights defenders united in solidarity.

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