“The Philippines is a dangerous place for women and women human rights defenders. The situation has aggravated because the Duterte government is hell-bent on protecting the foremost violators of women’s rights – the military and the police. We have a government that coddles rapists and murderers, headed by a leader who spouts demeaning statements against women and actively orders his mercenaries to act with the same disrespect and lack of regard for women’s rights,” said Karapatan secretary general Cristina Palabay during the commemoration of the International Women Human Rights Defenders Day on November 29, 2018.