During the 51st commemoration of International Human Rights Day on 10 December 2001, the Humanitarian Legal Assistance Foundation, with the help of Filipino human rights lawyers, was established in response to the worsening phenomenon of inhumane and unjust detention, aggravated by sub-human conditions in jails not only in the Philippines but in other parts of the globe as well.

The Foundation was issued a Certificate of Incorporation by the Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission under Company Registration Number A200202033 on 08 February 2002.

The incorporators are

Mr. Samson Choachuy

Atty. Sedfrey Candelaria

Atty. Carolyn Mercado

Atty. Daniel Gorgonia

Atty. Rea Chiongson

Atty. Perfecto G. Caparas II

The Officers and Board of Trustees of the Humanitarian Legal Assistance Foundation, are the following:

President - Atty. Carolyn Mercado

Secretary - Atty. Daniel Gorgonia

Ms. Catherine Choachuy

Atty. Ma. Victoria V. Cardona

Executive Director - Atty. Rommel Alim Abitria