Business & Human Rights Resource Centre condemns the violent murder of Dennis Sequeña. We send our condolences to his family and colleagues at this difficult time.

On Sunday, 2nd June 2019, Sequeña was conducting a labour rights seminar with workers from an eco-zone in Cavite, Philippines, where he was shot by an unidentified gunman. He was taken to the nearest hospital but died of his injuries.

Sequeña was a long-time organiser and ally of workers facing labour abuses in Cavite. He was a National Council member of Partido Manggagawa and vice chairperson of its provincial chapter in Cavite. He worked hard to educate workers about their rights and fought alongside them when rights were abused.

“Dennis stood on the frontlines when workers were harassed and threatened. His brutal death reminds us how dangerous the frontlines are for labour leaders and workers across the world."

“We are witnessing a mounting erosion of space for worker organising and violence against labour rights defenders, governments and business must take this seriously.”

Golda Benjamin, Southeast Asia Researcher at Business & Human Rights Resource Centre

Business & Human Rights Resources Centre joins urgent calls for the Government of the Philippines to investigate Dennis’s death, as well as the growing violence against labour activists and labour leaders, so that justice may be served.

We also call on the businesses operating in the Cavite eco-zone, their international buyers, and their investors to stand with the workers for their fight for fundamental rights: freedom to organise, right to fair and living wage and other lawful rights, and right to humane and safe working conditions.

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Read more about civic freedoms and human rights defenders in our dedicated portal.

Contacts:

Joe Bardwell, Communications Manager

[email protected]

+44 7966636981