Día del Cooperante 2026 | International Action for Peace (IAP): Commitment to Peace and Human Rights on the Ground

Día del Cooperante | Behind every cooperation project are people who choose to be there.

This Día del Cooperante, we are happy to highlight International Action for Peace (IAP) and, in particular, its Spanish cooperantes working in the Philippines: Guillem Barril Cutillas and Javier Muñoz López, Field Coordinators.

Guillem and Javier made the commitment to deploy to the Philippines and work directly in the field, embracing the challenges and realities that come with accompanying communities and local organizations in some of the country’s most vulnerable areas.

Their work has brought them face-to-face with challenging human rights situations and difficult experiences in the field, requiring not only professional dedication, but also resilience, empathy and a strong commitment to the people and communities they accompany.

Through their work with IAP and its local partners, they contribute to the protection of human rights defenders and the promotion of peace and human rights, working alongside those who are often at the forefront of some of the country’s most difficult challenges.

Their experience reminds us that cooperation is not simply about working from afar. It is about being present, listening, accompanying and standing alongside communities — even when the work is difficult.

We are grateful to Guillem and Javier for their courage, commitment and dedication, and for being an important part of the Spanish Cooperation community in the Philippines.

Thank you for being there.