Press Release
December 10, 2014

SEN. ANGARA'S SPONSORSHIP SPEECH ON HUMAN RIGHTS DAY

Mr. President, I rise on a day of utmost--albeit sometimes understated, even forgotten--importance. Sixty-six years ago, to this day, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a proclamation which started with: "All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and in rights." O sa ating wika, "Ang lahat ng tao'y isinilang na malaya at pantay-pantay sa karangalan at sa karapatan."

Ito po ang Pandaigdig na Pagpapahayag ng mga Karapatan ng Tao o ang Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). Ang UDHR ang siyang nagsisilbing basehan ng halos animnapung (60) international instruments and agreements na silang nagpapabuklod sa mundo patungo sa isang mas mapang-aruga at nakakasiglang kinabukasan. Dahil sa UDHR, nagkakaisa ang mundo sa adhikaing matamasa ang isang lipunan kung saan bawat tao ay malayang mabuhay nang matiwasay at ligtas sa anumang pangamba o pagdaralita. ("free from any fear or want").

Isa po tayo sa mga unang lumagda ng UDHR, ang ating bansang Pilipinas. Mismo sa ating Saligang Batas nakasaad na "pinahahalagahan ng Estado ang karangalan ng bawat tao at ginagarantyahan ang lubos na paggalang sa mga karapatang pantao." Kung kaya't layunin ng marami sa ating batas ngayon ay nakaangkla sa prinsipyong ito.

Ngunit, nananatili pa rin ang iba't ibang banta sa angking dignidad ng tao. Wala man ang karahasan na naranasan ng mundo noong Ikalawang Digmaang Pandaigdig, may lumalapastangan pa rin sa mga karapatan ng tao, bilang tao.

It was Pope Francis himself who said that "human rights are not only violated by terrorism, repression or assassination, but also by unfair economic structures that create huge inequalities."

To this list, we must add unaffordable food and gas prices, inaccessible health and education services, inadequate employment opportunities, societal inaction that leave many people in vulnerable conditions.

Which makes commemorating today, December 10, Human Rights Day--the 66th Anniversary of the UDHR--all the more important. Which makes the current administration's drive for inclusive growth all the more imperative.

This year's slogan for Human Rights Day is "Human Rights 365"--highlighting the fundamental proposition of the UDHR that every single person is entitled to the full range of human rights, anywhere in the world, at all times. In other words, each day should in fact be human rights day.

We hope to reach a time when human rights are felt much like air and water are experienced--ubiquitously. For just like air and water, these rights are essential to us living in this country and in this globe.

And while we have yet to achieve this, we will continue our Human Rights awareness campaigns and our work to meaningfully incorporate such rights in our laws and policies

Hence, Mr. President, I invite this august chamber to join the globe in commemorating and celebrating Human Rights Day. Thank you!

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