The House of Representatives, through the Committee on Human Rights chaired by Quezon City 4th District Representative Bong Suntay culminated its celebration of the Human Rights Consciousness Week recently with the theme “Recover Better, Stand Up For Human Rights, We Heal As One.”
In his speech, Suntay acknowledged the support given by Speaker Lord Allan Velasco, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles, House Secretary General Mark Llandro Mendoza.
The legislator also acknowledged the presence of lawmakers who graced the event online as well as the public’s participation in the Tiktok Challenge and Infomercial Contests that carried the celebration’s theme.
As the committee chair, the lawmaker said he always believes that human rights must be shared with every member of the community.
“Human rights are unifying, edifying and empowering.”
“That human rights are indeed universal, transcending borders, culture and language barriers. Human rights are unifying, edifying and empowering,” he said.
Suntay stressed to recover better from COVID-19, the country’s leaders and public servants must ensure that “no one is left behind, no one is discriminated upon, no one must suffer undue hunger and loss of employment, no one must put the people’s lives at risk only because the leaders have failed to deliver.”
He expressed optimism that Filipinos can bounce back as one nation, “healed of all the sorrows for the loss of our loved ones, healed of physical pains and emotional trauma.”
Suntay urged everyone to stand tall for human rights, unite in solidarity and claim a future that is COVID-free, peaceful and prosperous.
Meanwhile, Commission on Human Rights Chairperson Chito Gascon recognized the importance of the week-long human rights observance as part of the prescribed mandate under Republic Act 9201 as specified in the Philippine Human Rights Consciousness Week.
Gascon lauded the initiative of Suntay in leading the celebration.
He said the celebration’s theme is a way for the people to look back as Filipinos in solidarity, as “one united nation, one united world in the midst of a pandemic.”
Meanwhile, Kabataan Partylist Representative Sarah Jane Elago enjoined everyone to put human rights at the pandemic response and recovery to effectively combat the public health emergency.
“Everyone’s right to help must be upheld. No one must be denied COVID-19 treatment because of inaccessibility, unavailability, stigma and discrimination. We must continue to work together to raise our voices not only for the right to help amid the public health emergency, but to protect our very voices, the people’s voices. This can be done by upholding free speech, civil liberties, and democratic values so that the sovereign will of the people, through their elected officials and representatives, must prevail,” Elago said.
“Your voice matters. Your voice counts,” the legislator added as she assured that she is fully committed to include the voice of the youth among the voices of those standing up for human rights.
Committee on Human Rights Vice Chairperson, Quezon City 1st District Representative Onyx Crisologo said in his remarks that the pandemic generally affected everyone, but the impact on the marginalized and vulnerable sectors is heavier.
“This highlights the need to assert a human rights-based approach and develop strategies to address the threats of the global pandemic. That the goal to save lives will only be achieved through the development of programs firmly anchored on principles that are people-centered. Now more than ever, we should see the great value of equity, equality and inclusivity and devising strategies that seek to facilitate the full recovery of our country,” Crisologo said.
“This celebration is a living reminder of aspirations for the promotion of lasting peace.”
Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said he was honored to have been invited to deliver a solidarity message especially since he used to be a vice chair of the House Committee on Human Rights.
“In the international celebration of Human Rights Day such as today, this reaffirms my commitment to the cause of human rights. This celebration is a living reminder of aspirations for the promotion of lasting peace. It upholds human dignity and guarantees respect for individual freedom,” Nograles said.