By Joshua Corcuera
Isn’t it ironic that killings, power trippings, and abuses — despite being considered medieval — are still commonplace in the modern world?
Whether we like it or not, we have to admit that human rights violations are widespread and pervasive at home and abroad. From that child deprived of receiving formal education to that innocent person killed in the light of day; from that worker who’s overworked yet received little compensation to that couple discriminated against for being gay. Until today, many people suffer due to human rights violations from the obvious ones — such as those little men and women detained without due process of law — to the ones barely noticed such as overworked and underpaid workers.
But why exactly are there still violations against human rights in contemporary society? Part of the reason is that we’re silent when we witness such violations. There are many people, especially Filipinos, who would only speak up against attacks on human rights when they are already the ones suffering.
We all know that it is the right of every child to be educated, that it is the right of workers to receive just and decent pay, that it is the right of every person to live peacefully, that it is the right of everyone to be protected from discrimination regardless of their race or sexual orientation — and so on. But have you asked what have we done to uphold these rights?
Another reason is that we, as a people, have done little to pressure our leaders regarding upholding and improving the human rights situation in our country. As a consequence, many Filipinos — whether they are aware of or otherwise — struggle to fully realize their human rights. With leaders who are caring, competent, and compassionate to the plight of the people, fighting for human rights would likely become an important objective of the-powers-that-be.
Every December 10, Human Rights Day is observed around the world to commemorate the adoption and proclamation of the United Nations Universal Declaration on Human Rights (UDHR) in 1948. This fundamental text in the history of human rights affirmed that basic rights and freedoms are inherent, inalienable, and applicable to every person despite differences in several aspects — such as age, race, gender identity, socio-economic status, political and religious beliefs, and the like. 72 years after the adoption of the UDHR, upholding and fighting for everyone’s rights remains more relevant than ever. We must be reminded that we must stand up for everyone’s human rights at all times — and not only when we’re the ones aggrieved already.
Let us hope that the day where human rights are fully realized would come sooner rather than later; that malevolent, medieval acts would truly be a thing of the past; that we have genuinely learned to stand up for everyone’s rights even when we’re in a comfortable circumstance. More importantly, we must do our part — however small — in raising awareness and upholding human rights in society.