Women Environmental and Human Rights Defenders in Asia and the Pacific

Introducing Jhed and Jonila

Jhed Tamano and Jonila Castro are women environmental and human rights defenders from the Philippines, fighting relentlessly for the protection of the environment and the rights of marginalized communities. Their story is one of resilience and bravery.

Jhed and Jonila are members of AKAP KA Manila Bay, an alliance working to protect Manila Bay, one of the most important food sources in the Philippines. One of their recent campaigns is to stop the land reclamation project of San Miguel Corporation and Netherlands-based Boskalis companies due to the mangrove clearing, loss of livelihood and harassment of fisherfolk communities. But, on September 2, 2023, Jhed and Jonila’s fight took a tragic turn. While they were conducting research and preparing for relief efforts in Bataan Province, they were abducted by men who introduced themselves as part of the military. They were forcibly taken, blindfolded, and their personal belongings were taken. Worse, they were held incommunicado—isolated from the world—and subjected to psychological torture. They were threatened with death, manipulated, and relentlessly harassed in an attempt to silence them. 

They were made to face a live press conference to lie that they are communist rebels, a common trend done to human rights defenders in the Philippines. During the press conference, despite being in the presence of the military, they admitted that they were indeed abducted. Because of their bravery and strong political pressure from human rights organizations, they were released. The attacks did not stop there. The military filed a case of grave oral defamation against them. And when they applied for legal protection remedies, these were denied by the courts. This horrifying experience was not an isolated incident. It is just one example of the ongoing violence and repression that women environmental and human rights defenders (WEHRDs) face across Asia and the Pacific.

The Broader Picture: Data on Women Environmental and Human Rights Defenders

According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, 13% of the documented murders of human rights defenders are women. 40% of these women were defending their rights to environmental resources and land. In our ongoing writing of the publication entitled the, Women Environmental and Human Rights Defenders in Asia and the Pacific, we documented that the primary environmental threats that women face are related to mining operations, deforestation, and large-scale agribusiness plantations, compounded by the militarization of many communities. This militarization restricts access to basic social services like healthcare and education, while continuing to eliminate the means by which people earn their livelihoods.

In Indonesia, a farmer cannot access basic services simply because she doesn’t have a national ID since they were displaced from their home. In Papua New Guinea, an environmental activist is unable to send her children to school due to the constant threats against her family’s safety. In Cambodia, they cannot have  a proper job because the government discriminates against activists who are against large-scale mining projects.  

Women EHRDs face multiple burdens of taking care of their families, earning income and contributing to their community. When environmental issues arise, they have to work even harder to provide for everyday needs, having to take additional jobs, work longer hours or relocate their families. Women and local communities in general have a vast experience of organizing their members and empowering them to address challenges that arise. However, governments which are responsible for ensuring the welfare of its people, are also the cause of their problems. Instead of having genuine dialogue and addressing concerns, State security forces often treat people as enemies and conduct repressive measures. This hinders women’s capacity to engage in decision-making and public participation.

Why We Must Act: Recommendations for Protecting Women Environmental and Human Rights Defenders

To ensure that women like Jhed and Jonila, and countless other women can continue their vital work, we must take concrete action. We offer three key recommendations to encourage women EHRDs’ participation and provide a safe and enabling environment for women EHRDs to advocate for environmental rights.

First, we must recognize the invaluable role of Women Environmental and Human Rights Defenders at both the national and regional levels. These women have been at the forefront of environmental protection efforts historically and culturally. Their contribution goes beyond simply protecting the land; they preserve and nurture the cultures, traditions, and values that sustain local communities. Recognition is a vital first step toward ensuring that their rights are respected and that their work is valued. This can be done through policies, programs or laws.

Second, we must defend the rights of Women Environmental and Human Rights Defenders. This means establishing and strengthening legal frameworks to protect them. For example, in Mongolia, there is a law that grants human rights defenders legal status, helping ensure their protection. In the Philippines, we have the Human Rights Defenders Bill and Environmental Defense Bill that should be enacted by lawmakers. Furthermore, regional mechanisms such as the ASEAN environmental rights declaration should specifically include provisions and State responsibilities in protecting EHRDs. These policies should have specific provisions ensuring gender equality.

Finally, we must address the root causes of the attacks against these defenders. The ongoing environmental destruction caused by profit interests of businesses and supported by states—driven by monopoly capitalism—is a major factor. These companies often prioritize profit over people, leading to the displacement of communities and environmental degradation. We need to continue to campaign for the rights of these defenders and support their advocacy against environmental plunder. These defenders aren’t just fighting for nature—they’re fighting for justice, equality, and the very future of their communities.

The systems that have allowed this exploitation to happen must be challenged if we are to build a better, safer world for everyone.

Together, through collective action, we can build a safe space for every woman around the world to lead and inspire. These women will continue to lead the way, until we can create a world where all are free to protect their lands, their cultures, and their communities.