Obligation to protect human rights more pressing amid COVID-19 pandemic

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) admitted that their mandate of protecting human rights had become a more pressing obligation with the COVID-19 pandemic, as the health crisis puts Filipinos’ needs in the spotlight.

During the National Human Rights Consciousness Week (NHRCW) opening on Friday, CHR Chairperson Chito Gascon explained that the COVID-19 issue stresses the importance of access to medicines and other services that would ensure people are safe from the coronavirus — including the upcoming vaccine.

“The obligation to respect, protect, and fulfill human rights, especially the right to life and right to health, is more pressing than ever amidst the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic,” Gascon said in a statement.

“There must be functioning public health and health-care facilities, goods and services, as well as programs, have to be available in sufficient quantity and of good quality for the right to health to be fulfilled,” he added.

Furthermore, Gascon added that there should be no discrimination in providing medical services amid the pandemic, as the vaccine should be afforded to the public, especially those from vulnerable sectors.

Meanwhile, CHR Commissioner Karen Gomez-Dumpit noted that it is upon CHR and authorities to ensure that things would be better for the Filipino people and uphold human rights even in a crisis.

“It is our responsibility to make things better. It is our responsibility to keep in mind that there are matters that we should not keep silent about. Specifically, it is our duty to uphold human rights in these times of crisis,” Dumpit noted.

Various programs would be held, albeit virtually, in line with the celebration of the  National Human Rights Consciousness Week.  According to CHR, this activity seeks to reaffirm the national committee for the NHRCW’s commitment to protecting human rights amid the pandemic and the recent calamities that struck the country.

For 2020, the NHRCW would use the theme “Karapatan at Pagbangon sa Lahat ng Panahon: Recover Better – Stand Up for Human Rights.”

“As public servants, we have voluntarily taken the duty to put the rights of others before us. We expect everyone’s commitment in ensuring that their messages do not merely remain as words, that it should resonate with us and live with us,” CHR spokesperson Jacqueline de Guia said.

During the lockdowns and quarantine periods set in Luzon and other areas to minimize coronavirus transmissions, CHR has reminded both the national government and local government units to respect human rights and provide extra understanding for people who might have been affected drastically by the changes that the pandemic brought.

However, human rights issues still surfaced: last April, CHR probed concerns over supposedly harsh curfew penalties in Mexico Pampanga, wherein violators were asked to dance provocatively — supposedly as an affront to members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBTQIA+) community.

In the same month, Quezon City police officers were criticized for shooting down a retired Army officer in a quarantine checkpoint.  Police in the scene claimed that the retired Cpl. Winston Ragos was about to pull a gun on them, but bystanders in the area insisted that they told the cop that Ragos was suffering from a mental condition.

But the issues did not stop there: CHR also raised concerns over other harsh quarantine penalties, plus the arrest of jeepney drivers who were exercising their free speech in calling for the resumption of public transport.