Remembering and Depending Human Rights
Today heralds a milestone in the history and path of the struggle for human rights.
The Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (PAHRA) joints the United Nations (UN) family and the rest of the world in celebrating the 60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) with a firmer resolve in the pursuit to restore “Dignity and Justice For All of Us” the celebration’s international theme.
However, before the UDHR’s diamond year becomes just another holiday or special day’s usually celebrated with fancy ceremonies, this occasion should be remembered by reflecting on the country’s human rights situation and by resolving to act positively for the defense and fulfillment of the rights enshrined in the declaration.
Of utmost concern is the conflict in Mindanao and the underlying issue of the right to self-determination of Muslim and Lumads. The on-going war in the South is an anathema to dignity and rights not only of the displaced 88,243 families or 423,772 individuals but also of the countless civilians physically and emotionally maimed by this violence.
We remembered the UDHR beginning through building peace.
Similarly, the continuing summary killing, enforced disappearance, and torture of activist and civilians are human rights abominations. These could be exorcised without breakthroughs in the campaign against impunity whether through legal reforms, public advocacy, or international solidarity and cooperation.
We observe the 60th UDHR anniversary with renewal conviction to end the culture if impunity.
Another stumbling block to human rights protection is development aggression which is the total destructive effect of development priorities that ignore the right to self-determination and participation of affected residents One such policy would be the Mining Act of 1995 that promotes large-scale mining at the expense of the environment and the ancestral domain of indigenous people.
We honor UDHR’s birthday by asserting the rights-based approach to development.
Lastly, the upcoming 2010 National Election is also a cause for alarm among human rights defenders (HRD) because as it draws it near, rights abuses are also expected to increase. Patronage politics, since the birth of so-called Philippine democracy, have spawned power hungry politicians who would stop at nothing to satify their greed.
We commemorate UDHR’s 60 years of existence by ensuring that right to suffrage is fully respected.
Like diamonds, may human rights protection, promotion and fulfillment be forever . may human rights violations be a thing of the past. may cooperation and appreciation between and among Human Rights Defenders, the state and its Citizens define the start of this milestone in human rights promotion and protection.
The Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (PAHRA) joints the United Nations (UN) family and the rest of the world in celebrating the 60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) with a firmer resolve in the pursuit to restore “Dignity and Justice For All of Us” the celebration’s international theme.
However, before the UDHR’s diamond year becomes just another holiday or special day’s usually celebrated with fancy ceremonies, this occasion should be remembered by reflecting on the country’s human rights situation and by resolving to act positively for the defense and fulfillment of the rights enshrined in the declaration.
Of utmost concern is the conflict in Mindanao and the underlying issue of the right to self-determination of Muslim and Lumads. The on-going war in the South is an anathema to dignity and rights not only of the displaced 88,243 families or 423,772 individuals but also of the countless civilians physically and emotionally maimed by this violence.
We remembered the UDHR beginning through building peace.
Similarly, the continuing summary killing, enforced disappearance, and torture of activist and civilians are human rights abominations. These could be exorcised without breakthroughs in the campaign against impunity whether through legal reforms, public advocacy, or international solidarity and cooperation.
We observe the 60th UDHR anniversary with renewal conviction to end the culture if impunity.
Another stumbling block to human rights protection is development aggression which is the total destructive effect of development priorities that ignore the right to self-determination and participation of affected residents One such policy would be the Mining Act of 1995 that promotes large-scale mining at the expense of the environment and the ancestral domain of indigenous people.
We honor UDHR’s birthday by asserting the rights-based approach to development.
Lastly, the upcoming 2010 National Election is also a cause for alarm among human rights defenders (HRD) because as it draws it near, rights abuses are also expected to increase. Patronage politics, since the birth of so-called Philippine democracy, have spawned power hungry politicians who would stop at nothing to satify their greed.
We commemorate UDHR’s 60 years of existence by ensuring that right to suffrage is fully respected.
Like diamonds, may human rights protection, promotion and fulfillment be forever . may human rights violations be a thing of the past. may cooperation and appreciation between and among Human Rights Defenders, the state and its Citizens define the start of this milestone in human rights promotion and protection.
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