Representatives from the executive agencies, diplomatic community, civil society organizations, and human rights advocates gather together to spearhead the 75-Day Countdown of the Philippines to the 75th anniversary celebration of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. (Photo by: Janna Pineda/PIA-NCR)
QUEZON CITY, (PIA) — The Presidential Human Rights Committee Secretariat (PHRCS) on Tuesday, September 26, led the launching program for the 75-Day Countdown of the Philippines to the 75th anniversary celebration of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) which is set to take place on December 10, 2023.
This year’s countdown primarily aims to celebrate human rights progress, foster constructive partnerships, and mobilize support for the continuous advancement of collective social justice.
The said initiative will also serve as a platform for the reinforcement of the substantive commitment to the principles laid out in the UDHR, by bringing together concerned executive agencies, members of the diplomatic community, civil society organizations, and other human rights advocates.
This, in turn, will measure how the commitment of duty bearers has translated into relevant policies, laws, and practices towards protecting the lives of the people, especially the marginalized.
Undersecretary Severo Catura, the Executive Director of PHRCS, stressed the enduring significance of human rights in the Philippines as the cornerstone of nation-building.
Undersecretary Severo Catura, Executive Director of the Presidential Human Rights Committee Secretariat (PHRCS), welcomes participants during the launch of the 75-Day Countdown of the Philippines leading to the 75th anniversary celebration of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. (Photo by Janna Pineda/PIA-NCR)
“The Philippines has remained consistent in the pursuit of the human rights agenda that touches on protecting human lives, uplifting human dignity, and advancing our people’s progress,” said Catura, with reference to the country’s priority human rights advancement initiatives such as the Philippine Human Rights Plan.
Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, who is the concurrent Chairperson of the PHRC, meanwhile underscored the importance of the countdown as it provides for the opportunity to reflect on the challenges that still exist in the way of the Philippines towards the complete realization of a democratic and civic society.
“We fought for the UDHR because its principles echoed our aspirations as people for a more peaceful and compassionate world,” said Bersamin, noting that the Philippines was among the members of the very first Commission of Human Rights.
“We have become an active state party to relevant international human rights treaties, thereby realizing our commitments to the broad range of rights defined by the UDHR,” he added.
In his solidarity message, Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla reaffirmed the commitment of the agency to ensure that just practices rule in the Philippine justice system to guarantee the protection of human rights beyond acknowledgement.
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla delivers a solidarity message during the event. (Photo by Janna Pineda/PIA-NCR)
“The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is not just a mere piece of paper. It is a contract enshrined to guarantee fundamental human rights to every Filipino. It is a commitment to justice, equality, and liberty for all. We need to address the gaps in our current system, fight discrimination, and improve access to justice for every citizen,” Remulla stressed.
Moreover, United Nations (UN) Resident Coordinator Gustavo Gonzàles equally reiterated that the pursuit of human rights is the pillar of sustainable development.
UN Resident Coordinator Gustavo Gonzàles also graces the human rights promotion event. (Photo by Janna Pineda/PIA-NCR)
“Inequality remains a challenge, and it is growing. We cannot hope to achieve the dignity of all person when a significant number of people globally cannot even access basic social services and economic rights like adequate housing, basic healthcare, and quality education,” Gonzàles remarked.
Commission on Human Rights (CHR) Chairperson Atty. Richard Palpal-Latoc also took part in the countdown launch by bringing into view the agency’s parallel initiatives to further the cause of human rights. These include the “Lakbay Karapatan Tungo sa Kamalayan (LaKarAn)” project which is a grassroots-based information caravan aimed at the direct delivery of CHR services to the masses.
On the other hand, the translation of the UDHR into major Philippine languages (Filipino, Cebuano, Hiligaynon, Ilocano, and Bicolano) was presented as one of the key knowledge products that were developed to deepen the understanding and appreciation of people in the first communities across nations for human rights.
To strengthen the inclusivity of the said knowledge product, the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights is looking into the possibility of producing translated UDHR booklets in braille format to cater the needs of the visually impaired.
Further, the PHRC is targeting to form a Philippine National Recommendations Tracking Database (PH-NRTD) Network which will be utilized to improve evidence-based policy-making and enhance the accountability of human rights duty bearers across various sectors.
The PHRC is the lead government agency that oversees the compliance of the country to its human rights obligations pursuant to Administrative Order No. 163, s. 2006.
The 75th anniversary of the UDHR is anchored on the theme “Protecting Human Lives, Uplifting Human Dignity, Advancing People’s Progress!” (PIA-NCR)
