The RESIST Program responds to the growing militarization, state repression, and shrinking civic space affecting communities and civil society across Mindanao, the Philippines, and Southeast Asia. From red-tagging and disinformation to repressive security laws and violent crackdowns, many groups—especially Indigenous Peoples, youth, women, grassroots peace networks, and human rights defenders—face increasing threats to their safety, dignity, and democratic participation.

RESIST strengthens their capacities to understand these dynamics, defend their rights, and collectively challenge the policies and systems that enable repression. Our work equips community leaders, human rights groups, and solidarity movements to engage state institutions, challenge hard-security narratives, document abuses, and advocate for policies grounded in human rights and civilian protection.

By 2027, IID envisions civil society movements that are more cohesive, better informed, and consistently working together across regions. In Mindanao and the rest of the Philippines, RESIST supports groups like ALISTO!, Mindanao human rights networks, and IP community leaders to monitor abuses connected to red-tagging, disinformation, the Anti-Terrorism Act, EO 70, NTF-ELCAC, and other militarized programs. These groups gain the skills to negotiate, lobby, influence public discourse, and build alliances that can challenge harmful policies and protect vulnerable communities.

The program also strengthens international and regional solidarity. We support Burma Solidarity Philippines (BSP), youth-led protest movements, and regional civil society networks pushing back against authoritarianism, discrimination, and impunity. Through sustained coordination, regional campaigns, strategy sessions, and shared advocacy plans, these platforms contribute to collective action at ASEAN and national levels—amplifying calls for accountability, democratic reforms, and protection of civic freedoms across Southeast Asia.

Beyond empowering individuals, RESIST builds durable alliances capable of confronting repressive systems. We help networks collaborate on major advocacy campaigns, engage with policy mechanisms, and co-create strategies that connect local struggles to regional and global movements. Through research, documentation, direct advocacy, solidarity actions, and continuous learning exchanges, the program strengthens the civil society infrastructure needed to resist authoritarian tendencies and protect peoples’ rights.

Ultimately, RESIST works to ensure that communities and movements have the tools, support, and collective power to challenge repression, defend civic space, and build a society where people are free from fear, exclusion, and indignity.

Program Updates