It is a known fact that Philippines is a democratic country; people can be as free as they

want so long as their exercise of freedom is within the bounds of the law. Here, your basic
human rights are respected and protected. Sounds enticing right? But don’t fall in love with this
idea right away. The surface may be pleasing to the eyes but once you dig deeper, surely you’ll
discover the ugliness it tries to conceive from us. It would not take you that long to turn your
nose away from the stink this government hides.

According to an online article by Human Rights Watch, human rights violations in the
country have declined under the Aquino administration. In all fairness to the presidency of His
Excellency, extra judicial killings, enforced disappearances and torture are comparatively lower
than the previous administration. But still, they continue to exist. The Aquino administration has
failed to keep its promise of a more concrete action plan against human rights violations in the
country. Committees have been formed before, just like the Special Task Force Against Extra
Judicial Killings and Enforced Disappearances but according to the same article it has failed to
deliver results. This move was more of a PR strategy from the government. Sounded like it was
just ornamental, but not functional. But one has to look beyond these human rights issues,
because there are more to these, not just the killings and the disappearances.

The diversity and plurality of the Philippines must be safeguarded through respect and
tolerance. The State must respect and promote harmony and understanding between and among
individuals, communities and peoples. It must uphold non-discrimination among peoples
regardless of age, race, ethnicity, religion, gender, physical ability, sexual orientation, social
beliefs and political convictions. Cultural traditions and institutionalized power shall not serve as
justification for any form of violence, abuse, neglect, or deprivation of human and peoples’
rights.

This is one of the provisions written on the Human and Peoples’ Rights Declaration of
the Philippines. It’s very idealistic. Words were beautifully crafted to please whoever is reading
it. But I believe that these are just purely written ideas that never get to be realized.

It was clearly provided that there should be non-discrimination among people regardless
of ethnicity. But what is hugely apparent is that IPs are still discriminated in many things, one of
them is discrimination in education. In the country, there are 2.5 million IP children. They live
mostly in remote areas where public schools offer limited services. Since they are IP children it
is very important that while they get civilized through formal education, they should never forget
their ethnic roots. This is where the problem stems. The curriculum offered in these schools
cannot address the special needs of these IPs which could fit their own culture. IPs are also at
risk of dropping out of school because of poverty or because of the distance they have to travel
just to get in school

In an article written by Mong Palatino in The Diplomat for its February 2015 issue, he
said that there are about 5.5 million working children in the country and 2.9 million of them are
working in hazardous industries like mines and plantations. Most of these children have stopped
school. They usually work for 10 hours even up to 16 sometimes if the situation demands it. The
Philippines is faced with the serious problem of child trafficking which is committed for the
purpose of labor, usually, in factories and as domestic workers; for sexual exploitation and for
illegal activities such as begging, drug trading and illegal adoption. Children of poor families in
the rural areas are usually the target for child trafficking. Part of what the Constitution demands
to be protected are the children. The very fact that they are children makes them vulnerable to so
many things which is why they would really need protecting. What has the government done to
protect them from being abused by these business owners who use their fragile bodies for heavy
labor? From these pedophiles who use their tender bodies for sexual gratification?

The present government may say they have fulfilled their obligations in ensuring that
every citizen gets to enjoy basic human rights but I think otherwise. If their only claim is that
they have reduced incidence of extra judicial killings, enforced disappearances and torture then
they are completely blind or are intentionally trying to shut their eyes to the whole reality. The
scope of human rights is beyond that. Housing conditions of the less fortunate are worse than
ever. A lot of children are deprived of education because of poverty. The government turns the
people’s attention away from these other human rights violation by simply showing how much
he condemned his predecessor instead of forming orders that may eradicate or if not at least
reduce said violations. He’s very proud in sharing to everyone all his achievements in terms of
economic development but never had the guts to admit that problems concerning human rights
still exist. As long as these problems continue to plague our country, I will forever have the
opinion that the status of human rights in the Philippines will need more improvement. There is
so much more to fulfill, so many more to be done in order that we may achieve improved
conditions of human rights in the country. Every day is a struggle, every day is a battle. The
government is the commander in chief, and we are soldiers ready to fight. If the government
never makes the move, if it doesn’t create smart battle strategies, then we will definitely loose
the war against human rights violations.