Robredo: Working to uphold human rights goes beyond ‘token recognition’

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Leni Robredo underscored on Thursday, International Human Rights Day, that upholding and protecting human rights goes well beyond mere token recognition as it requires a lot of work and struggle.

In her message for the commemoration of Human Rights Day, Robredo said that even if the COVID-19 pandemic presents chances to restrict some liberties, the country must remain committed to respecting human rights.

“Human rights have always had the character of both declaration and aspiration. Upholding every person’s rights and dignity does not end with token recognition, but requires work and struggle for their full realization,” she said.

“And in this time of crisis, when it is often tempting to brush aside human rights in pursuit of expediency, that struggle becomes even more important,” she added.

The Vice President also acknowledged that protecting human rights has been difficult during the pandemic while also being integral — similar remarks from the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), which recently admitted that the health crisis made their jobs more pressing.

“Fighting for the rights of the voiceless, the powerless, the unpopular, or even simply those on the other side of an increasingly vicious political divide, has never been more difficult, but also, never more critical,” Robredo noted.

“Sa pagtataguyod sa mga karapatan natin, nabubuo ang pagmamalasakit, ang pananagutan para sa isa’t isa, ang pakikipagkapwa. Ito mismo ang landas tungo sa isang better normal: Pulling together through the acknowledgment of the worth and dignity of every individual. As this year’s theme reminds us: We need to stand up for human rights if we are to recover better,” she added.

(In standing up for our rights, we learn to be concerned about other people’s welfare, to account for each other.  This is the exact path towards a better normal: Pulling together through acknowledging the worth and dignity of every individual. As this year’s theme reminds us: We need to stand up for human rights if we are to recover better.)

Discussions about human rights have been widespread ever since President Rodrigo Duterte assumed office in 2016, as the issue remains a vital point in individuals and groups’ critique of the administration.

Duterte drew widespread condemnation for his war against illegal drugs, as law enforcement agencies allegedly disregard human rights in the conduct of anti-drug operations.  But the President has been unyielding to calls to end the drug war, criticizing international rights groups for meddling in the country’s affairs.

Duterte once said that he should not be blamed for drug war deaths as people going into the drug trade are actually committing suicide.

Robredo did not mention Duterte in her message, but many activist groups have called out the Chief Executive for supposedly posturing towards upholding human rights.

Duterte assured the international community during the first Human Rights Summit 2020 that the country remains committed to prioritizing human rights.  However, groups labeled this as a token recognition as rights violations and red-tagging persist even with this statement. [ac]