Philippines, September 1972
Martial Law was proclaimed in 1972 and lasted until 1986. During this fourteen year period, thousands of Filipinos lost their basic human rights of freedom and expression, among others. Many lived in fear of a militarized government, many were arrested and many disappeared. Many Filipinos fled overseas to protect their safety. One of the lesser known effects of the Martial Law period is a fractured economy which has forced millions of Filipinos to seek work abroad.
The Philippine diaspora as of 2019 exeeds 12 million people worldwide; a number greater than the population of Sweden.
Stockholm, September 2022
Sweden ranks in the top three of press freedom and human rights worldwide. In 2021, Maria Ressa was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her work in press freedom.
We are planning a week-long event in remembrance of the 50 years since the 1972 proclamation in Martial Law. We hope you will join us. More information to come. Join our waiting list below for updates.