Atin Ito First Filipino Community Newspaper in Ontario
Led by the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), the Philippines joined in the worldwide observance of the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and mounted the National Human Rights Consciousness Week on Dec.4-10. Truly, raising human rights consciousness must be carried on every day to ensure attainment of the country’s aspirations for inclusive growth and progress.
Free LRT-2 rides were offered yesterday — a benefit that must have gladdened thousands of Metro Manila commuters — as the Department of Transportation’s contribution to the consciousness-raising efforts. Horrendous traffic jams caused by inadequate infrastructure and inefficient public transportation systems inflict massive inconvenience to commuters — a continuing impediment against the enjoyment of the basic right to travel.
Dignidad, Kalayaan at Katarungan Para sa Lahat, or Dignity, Freedom, and Justice for All — the theme adopted by the CHR, encompasses a broad spectrum of human rights. Shown in the theme banner are Lady Justice, female soldiers, a woman, a schoolgirl, a father hugging his child, a male police officer talking to two boys, and two elderly women who belong to indigenous tribes. Above them, two doves are hovering in flight, apparently symbolizing peace that is the desired outcome of the untrammeled observance of respect for human rights.
Violence against women — and their continuing discrimination in many fields — remains a priority human rights concern, along with child abuse and human trafficking. Indigenous peoples are still being hounded and harassed in homes and communities in mountains and forests that are trampled upon by illegal loggers and poachers.
Against this inauspicious backdrop, the Supreme Court, under the leadership of Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo, is implementing a Strategic Plan for Judicial Innovations (SPJI). This is a comprehensive blueprint that seeks to mobilize all the pillars of the Justice System involved in law enforcement, prosecution, judiciary, and penology in integrated efforts to achieve justice for all which represents the full fruition of the enjoyment of human rights.
Equality of opportunity is essential to the attainment of inclusive growth. Massive poverty is the outcome of huge deficits in employment that deprive millions of Filipinos of the opportunity to earn decent wages and be sheltered in decent homes. This is the rationale for AmBisyon 2040, the country’s vision for sustainable and inclusive growth that was crafted during the administration of President Benigno S. Aquino III.
The Philippines aspires to attain upper middle-income status by 2025, as projected by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA). Latest figures show that the inflation rate has slowed down and year-to-date unemployment rate now stands at 4.6 percent, or significantly below the 5.3 to 6.4 percent target of the Marcos administration. Hopefully, there would be no significant fallout from global events, or setbacks caused by catastrophic natural disasters that would hinder the country’s forward progress significantly.
A unified citizenry that constantly guards against infringement or abuse of human rights is entitled to reap the fruits of liberty.
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Credit belongs to: www.mb.com.ph
