IDEALS was established as a legal focused advocacy and service institution addressing the issues of agrarian reform and rural development when poverty incidence in rural communities was extremely higher than in the urban areas due to problems confronting the country’s agriculture sector.  The organization primarily helped in lobbying the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program Extension with Reforms (CARPER).

Expanding its initiative, the institution engaged in projects involving economic rights for international trade programs focused on policy making and trade agreements. With the growing number of Filipinos working overseas, IDEALS also extended its programs for the migrants’ rights providing defense and technical services for their legal needs.

With its focus on legal equity, IDEALS helped business and people’s organizations and cooperatives through providing services for corporate needs of social enterprises. Together with international trade and migrants’ rights programs, this is a project pioneered by the organization.

Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan)— the country’s strongest storm hit Visayas leaving victims in desolation and wiping out their legal documents. IDEALS, then, started its work for the victims’ rights in crisis and emergencies focusing on legal identification while also providing legal assistance and services particularly in accessing and claiming benefits after the calamity.

The organization focused on the promotion and defense of human rights working with its partner parishes for legal documentation of human rights violations.