A plight for human rights

Human rights are best defined as the dignity of a person. They choose no status, gender, age, or belief. Human rights are for all, even for those who committed crimes, even for those who do not know they have such rights, and even for those who disregard our rights. Here in our country, Article III, namely the Bill of Rights, contains 22 sections, which state every right and privilege not only limited to Filipino citizens but rather to every person belonging to the human race. But the question is, are the people who are supposedly protecting our rights actually protecting them, or are they the ones stepping on our rights?

With the unjustifiable killings that are lately occurring everywhere, it is uncertain that our rights are truly secured. Many innocent lives, specifically those who are falsely accused of using and selling illegal drugs, are killed, or sometimes even tortured to death mostly by officials. Many of these are powerless with regard to their status in society. Aside from the unjustifiable killings, workers are also being deprived of the lack of protection of their rights. They are given low wages which are not enough to sustain the needs of their families, and some also work in the form of contractualization, in which the workers do not get their benefits or privileges such as permanent work, social benefits, and right amount of salary. These are just a few examples of how human rights, especially of the poor, are neglected.

In recent times, human rights are clearly disregarded mostly by those with power and influence, and those who are less privileged are the ones whose rights are blatantly ignored. Their weakness is taken as an advantage for the benefit of those who are in the higher status. More often than not, they are treated with no respect and their dignity as persons is taken away.

The naked truth of our society is that human rights are certainly at risk. We cannot rely on someone else to protect our rights, but rather, only we can. To do so, first and foremost, we have to recognize our rights. Knowing these can help us raise awareness and determine whether a person is already violating our rights. Second is that we should educate ourselves to be more conscious of what is happening in our society. We educate ourselves not only to excel academically in school, but also to be aware of what is truly happening and know the least we can do for the better. Third is to be a voice; a voice that can advocate for justice for the victims of human rights violations. We do not literally have to show up at rallies and shout the word “Justice” to do so, but the least we can do is to influence others to be aware. It is not only ourselves that should be aware of what is happening, but as much as possible, everyone else. There is really no point in ignoring these issues we are currently facing, as every aspect of the society is and can be affected, and thus, all must take action.

As Familians, we are truly blessed to have the opportunity to be aware of our human rights. We are sent to school to be educated in order for us to raise awareness and be well-informed. Yet, we should remember that millions of our fellowmen, the vulnerable, unprivileged, and voiceless, are suffering from the violation of human rights. Thus, it is our duty to give them the dignity that every human being inherently owns and deserves and help them stand up against the violations they continue to face.