Solidarity Statement of the Medical Action Group (MAG)
The Medical Action Group (MAG) stands in unwavering solidarity with Nanay Sally Ujano, a courageous woman human rights defender who has been unjustly convicted under a trumped-up charge of rebellion. Her case is a glaring example of how the Philippine justice system is being weaponized to criminalize the courage of those who dare to speak truth to power and stand up for justice, dignity, and human rights.
For decades, Nanay Sally has championed the rights of women and children, dedicating her life to peaceful, principled advocacy grounded in compassion and integrity. Her arrest and conviction are not only a miscarriage of justice, but also a direct attack on the legitimacy of human rights work in the country.
Now advanced in age and battling multiple health conditions, the impact of her detention has been devastating to her physical and mental well-being. To incarcerate an elderly woman in fragile health under baseless charges is not only cruel and inhumane is a violation of the State’s duty to protect the rights and dignity of persons deprived of liberty, especially those most vulnerable.
As a health and human rights organization, MAG strongly condemns the ongoing criminalization of human rights defenders in the Philippines. The case of Nanay Sally underscores a broader and deeply troubling pattern – criminalizing the courage of individuals who dare to defend the marginalized and challenge systemic injustice.
We call on the authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Nanay Sally Ujano on humanitarian grounds. We urge human rights institutions, civil society, and the broader public to amplify the call for her freedom and to resist the erosion of democratic spaces and fundamental freedoms.
No one should be punished for defending human rights. Nanay Sally deserves justice, freedom, and the same care and compassion she has extended to countless others throughout her life.