By Jelly F. Musico
MANILA, Dec. 10 (PNA) – Senator Juan Edgardo Angara promised on Wednesday to work closely on measures that will further protect human rights not only from repression and terrorism but also from unfair economic structures that create huge inequalities.
”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,” Angara said in a privilege speech where he urged his Senate colleagues to join the world in commemorating the Human Rights Day.
”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,” he added.
Angara said human rights are also violated through unaffordable food and gas prices, inaccessible health and education services, inadequate employment opportunities, and societal inaction that leave many people in vulnerable conditions.
He said this year’s slogan “Human Rights 365” highlights the fundamental proposition of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (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,” he said.
Angara said that aside from other laws, the Constitution itself guarantees that the State should protect human rights. (PNA)