Advocates for Human Rights in Aurora Province (AHRAP, Inc) responds to many human rights violations perpetrated by the military, particularly during Martial Law of Marcos’ dictatorial regime and the military campaign under the succeeding regimes. The organisation is dedicated to upholding the rights of the poor, deprived and oppressed. Kaisahan Para sa Tiyakang Panirahan (KPTP) is a recently developed local association whose purpose is to work together as a community as they claim ownership to their residential lots.

They believe that unity and cooperation within the communities are needed to face the common problem. Although the association is very new, their continued occupancy in their place is an indication of their strength to get hold to the lots they reside.

Securing permanent shelter and residency is a basic right of every family. Millions of people around the world live in overcrowded slums and informal settlements. Such conditions do not uphold human dignity according to international conventions: everybody’s right to adequate housing. In the Philippines, thousands of poor families are forcibly evicted or threatened with eviction from their homes every year. In Aurora province, the above mentioned situation is already happening in the identified communities. These informal poor settlers who do not legally own their residential lot are becoming the victims as they don’t have residents’ security of tenure.

The Empowering the Youth and Elderly Towards Security of Occupancy project to be implemented by the Advocates for Human Rights in Aurora Province (AHRAP), Inc. and the Kaisahan Para sa Tiyakang Panirahan (KPTP). The project empowers the elderly and the youth to serve their community in their pursuance of their basic rights to own the land they have developed over a long period of time. Strengthening the rightsholder groups heightens their awareness and form their skills to be able to actively involve themselves in this endeavour and struggle together as one community until they achieve their right to owning their residential lands.