 The
National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers was founded on September
15, 2007 as a nationwide voluntary association of human rights
lawyers in the Philippines, committed to the defense, protection,
and promotion of human rights, especially of the poor and
the oppressed.
The clientele of NUPL are the marginalized and oppressed
sectors — the farmers, workers, fisherfolk, urban
poor, women, youth, students, children, migrant workers,
indigenous peoples, Moro people, minority groups, political
activists and human rights defenders.
One hundred forty one lawyers, law students and paralegals
attended the founding congress of the NUPL marking it as
one of the largest gatherings of human rights lawyers since
martial law. Thirty-eight lawyers from Luzon, twenty-three
lawyers from Visayas and twenty lawyers from Mindanao form
part of its founding members together with law students
and paralegals from various regions.
 NUPL
was organized to provide mechanisms for collaboration, coordination,
assistance and facilitation of legal services in the local
and national levels. As a frontline advocacy group, NUPL
is directly engaged in litigation and legal consultancy
as a venue for advocacy on issues affecting the rights of
the people and an arena to serve them even more effectively
and efficiently.
The NUPL is oriented towards the active defense, protection
and promotion of human rights covering the peoples’
civil, political, social, economic and cultural rights,
including the advocacy and assertion of their inherent right
to self-determination.
As a principal mission, the NUPL is united and committed
to render competent legal services, with the use of one’s
legal education, skills, training, knowledge and experience,
to the marginalized sectors for the upholding and promotion
of their rights and freedoms.
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
To render concrete, specific, prompt, and competent legal
services to victims of violations of civil, political, economic,
social and cultural rights of the poor and oppressed and
to facilitate and coordinate the rendition of such services.
To vigorously, systematically and aggressively prepare,
file, prosecute and pursue all kinds of cases, complaints,
investigations, lobbying against suspected perpetrators
of such violations.
To maximize and rationalize the practical use of existing
judicial, quasi-judicial and other legal fora and remedies
in the national and international levels including the mechanisms
arising out of the peace process for the defense, protection
and promotion of human rights.
To campaign, advocate and lobby for the liberties, freedoms
and rights of the Filipino people as well as those of other
peoples of the world.
To share concrete experiences in handling human rights
cases and come up with specific recommendations and mechanisms
to help ensure the defense, promotion and protection of
human rights and to substantially contribute to the removal
of impunity for violations therefor.
To concretize and institutionalize steps and programs for
the protection of the security and welfare of lawyers who
are under threat and attack by virtue of the exercise of
the profession especially those involved in human rights
practice as well as on the welfare of the families of those
who have been killed or attacked.
To promote human rights lawyering as a viable professional
alternative, provide venues to conduct research and for
professional and political education, development, cooperation
and mutual support for its members.
To link up, establish and maintain professional and solidarity
linkages with other national and international individuals,
groups or organizations.
PROGRAMS
1. Legal Services Program (LSP)
Provide competent legal services to victims of human rights
violations, including services for the prosecution of human
rights violators as part of NUPL’s commitment to actively
participate in the battle against impunity, using existing
legal forums and remedies in the national and international
levels.
2. Campaigns and Advocacy Program (CAP)
Conducts advocacy and popular education for the promotion,
protection and defense of human rights. CAP creates the
environment for linking up, networking and developing relations
with personalities and groups, especially lawyers groups
for the promotion, protection and defense of human rights
and helps promote public interest lawyering as a viable
professional alternative.
3. Education and Research Program (ERP)
Conducts research and documentation of relevant national,
international and sectoral issues. The ERP provides venues
for education, training and development of NUPL members
and the public on relevant national and other issues.
4. Protection and Welfare of Lawyers Program
(PWLP)
Conducts activities for the promotion and protection of
the welfare of lawyers under attack and their families,
which include monitoring and documenting these attacks and
actively participating in the prosecution of the cases filed
against the perpetrators of these attacks.
5. Organization and Expansion Program (OEP)
Promote human rights lawyering as a real, alternative law
practice and conduct activities for consolidation and development
of NUPL members. Conduct activities that strengthen relations
and enhance cooperation with lawyers groups in the Philippines.
Develop human rights lawyers from among law students, legal
workers, practitioners and paralegals.
6. International Solidarity Program (ISP)
Link up and establish professional and solidarity relations
with international individuals, groups or organizations
of lawyers and non-lawyers. Actively participate in activities
abroad and in international campaigns on human rights and
other relevant issues.
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