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Ibon, a Tagalog word for bird, is a symbol for peace, freedom and liberation. IBON Foundation is an international research-advocacy-education-development organization dedicated to the promotion of information and knowledge for empowerment especially of the marginalized sectors of society. Started in the Philippines in 1978, it has established its reputation as an effective advocate of people’s causes and supporter for building capacity and promoting empowerment. It is an international organization with branches promoting South-South exchange in several global regions, besides advocacy representation and development education in the North.
As a development organization, IBON is distinctive by being consciously rooted in peoples’ movements and grassroots level organizations. It is an actual partner of people’s movements and component/facilitator of their platforms and activities. It operates as a specialized assistant to the people’s movements in the areas of research, advocacy promotion, education and training. Depending on circumstances and needs, it conducts seminars and conferences, training programs, publications, media information and advocacy, lobby and advocacy in support of urgent causes of the marginalized sectors of society.
IBON in Europe
IBON Europe was set up in 2007 as the base for IBON International‘s program in Europe. It will initially focus on EU member states where it will develop partnerships with grassroots-based movements of marginalized peoples and sectors according to its mandate.
It aims to contribute to the effort of building capacity and promoting people’s empowerment by providing research, education and advocacy support to migrant communities and to other marginalized sectors of society in both North and South.
It facilitates dialogue and engagement between North-South civil society organizations and state actors by conducting seminars, conferences, training programs, media information and advocacy, campaigns, lobby and advocacy in support of grassroots organizations and social movements in Europe and in the South.
IBON Europe’s operational base is in Brussels, Belgium and it has a representative office in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Work in other non-EU member states in the region will develop according to need and capacity.
IBON Europe will initially develop three programs, paying attention to addressing urgent issues and campaigns in the course of program implementation:
- Development education and training
- Assistance in and promotion of information, research and publications work
- Networking, campaigns, lobby and advocacy support
IBON Europe works closely with IBON International programs in South and Southeast Asia through IBON India and IBON Philippines, and in North America through IBON United States.
Staff:
Maitet Singson–Ledesma
Coordinator
Kendy Sario-Geuns
Administrative Support
Dr. Angelica Gonzales
Human Rights - Philippine Desk
C. Parungo
Web editor
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Ramil Autencio dreamed of making a better life in the Philippines for himself and his young family with the promise of a good-paying job in Kuwait. He never suspected that weeks after leaving home in December 2003 he would be living a wartime nightmare in northern Iraq, pushing boulders 11 hours a day, seven days a week for a contractor fortifying a US military camp in Tikrit.
The Hague – In a 13-page verdict read before about 300 people inside a church in this city March 25, the Permanent Peoples' Tribunal (PPT) found both Philippine President Gloria M. Arroyo and US President George W. Bush Jr. and their respective governments as responsible for gross and systematic violations of human rights, economic plunder and transgression of the Filipino people's sovereignty.
