Rose Trajano, originally trained as a nurse, was inspired by her dean’s activism and soon found herself deeply involved in community health work in rural areas of the Philippines. After witnessing the effects of human rights violations post-Martial Law, she dedicated herself to the cause, working closely with the Medical Action Group to support torture victims and address issues faced by political activists and internal refugees.
Rose played a critical role in the establishment of the Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (PAHRA) in 1986, aiming to unite and strengthen the voices of human rights defenders. Despite being a person of interest to military and police, her prominent national role provides her some protection; however, she acknowledges that grassroots defenders face greater risks. Rose continues to engage with both national government agencies and international bodies to advocate for the safety and rights of human rights defenders across the Philippines.
