Republic of the Philippines

WESTERN MINDANAO STATE UNIVERSITY

Pagadian Campus
Pagadian City

PEACE AND GLOBAL EDUCATION

Upholding Human Dignity and Rights

At its most basic, the concept of human dignity is the belief that all people
hold a special value that’s tied solely to their humanity. It has nothing to do
with their class, race, gender, religion, abilities, or any other factor other than
them being human.
Human rights are rights inherent to all human beings, regardless of race,
sex, nationality, ethnicity, language, religion, or any other status. Human
rights include the right to life and liberty, freedom from slavery and torture,
freedom of opinion and expression, the right to work and education, and
many more.
Respect for dignity implies respect for the autonomy of each person, and
the right of everyone not to be devalued as a human being or treated in a
degrading or humiliating manner.
Human dignity: the human rights framework
The original meaning of the word "dignity" established that someone
deserved respect because of their status. In the Universal Declaration of
Human Rights, that concept was turned on its head. Article 1 states: "All
human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights." Suddenly,
dignity wasn't something that people earned because of their class, race, or
another advantage. It is something all humans are born with. Simply by being
human, all people deserve respect. Human rights naturally spring from that
dignity.
Why recognizing human dignity is so important?
Why is human dignity so important when it comes to human rights? Human
dignity justifies human rights. When people are divided and given a value
based on characteristics like class, gender, religion, and so on, it creates
unequal societies where discrimination runs rampant. People assigned a
higher value get preferential treatment. Anyone who doesn't fit into the
privileged category is abandoned or oppressed. We've seen what happens in
places where human dignity isn't seen as inherent and human rights aren't
universal. While the privileged few in these societies flourish, society as a
whole suffers significantly. Inevitably, violence erupts. If a new group takes
power and also fails to recognize human dignity, the cycle of destruction
continues, only with different participants.
10 Examples of Human Rights.
1. The right to life.
2. The right to freedom from torture and inhumane treatment.
3. The right to equal treatment before the law.
4. The right to privacy
5. The right to asylum
6. The right to marry and have family.
7. The right to freedom of thought, religion, opinion, and expression.
8. The right to work.
9. The right to education.
10. The right to social services.

INDIGENOUS PEOPLES’ RIGHTS

Indigenous Peoples are distinct social and cultural groups that share
collective ancestral ties to the lands and natural resources where they live,
occupy or from which they have been displaced. The land and natural
resources on which they depend are inextricably linked to their identities,
cultures, livelihoods, as well as their physical and spiritual well-being. They
often subscribe to their customary leaders and organizations for
representations that are distinct or separate from those of the mainstream
society or culture.
Many Indigenous Peoples still maintain a language distinct from the
official language or languages of the country or region in which they reside;
however, many have also lost their languages or on the precipice of
extinction due to eviction from their lands and/or relocation to other
territories, and in.
There are an estimated 476 million Indigenous Peoples worldwide.
Although they make up just 6 percent of the global population, they account
for about 19 percent of the extreme poor. Indigenous Peoples’ life expectancy
is up to 20 years lower than the life expectancy of non-Indigenous Peoples
worldwide.
In 2007 the United Nations passed the Declaration on the Rights
of Indigenous Peoples, to help eliminate human rights violations
against them. It creates a framework for laws to make sure that issues
are addressed by working directly with Indigenous communities.
There are 46 Articles, or rules, in the Declaration, including:
 1. Indigenous peoples are free and equal to all others and have the
right to be free from any kind of discrimination, including
discrimination based on their Indigenous origin or identity
(Article Two).
2. Indigenous people have the right to live in freedom, peace and
security.
3. They must be free from genocide and other acts of violence
including the removal of their children by force (Article Seven).
4. Indigenous peoples have the right to practice and revitalize their
cultural traditions and customs (Article Eleven).
5. Indigenous peoples shall not be removed from their land by
force. Where they agree, they should be provided compensation,
and, where possible, have the possibility to return (Article 10).
6. Indigenous peoples must not be discriminated against in matters
connected with employment (Article 17).
7. Governments shall consult properly with Indigenous peoples
before adopting laws and policies that may affect them. They
must use the principles of free, prior and informed consent –
which means giving Indigenous peoples all the facts needed to
make decisions (Article 19).
8. Indigenous peoples have the right to own, use and control their
lands, waters and other resources. Governments shall recognize
and protect these lands, waters and resources (Article 26).
This Declaration is unique in that it was the first UN document created
for the people, by the people: Indigenous People from all over the world
helped to develop it, and it took more than two decades of discussions.

REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8371 “AN ACT TO RECOGNIZED,

PROTECT AND PROMOTE THE RIGHTS OF INDIGENOUS
CULTURAL/INDIGENOUS PEOPLE, CREATING A NATIONAL
COMMISSION ON INDIGENOUS PEOPLE, ESTABLISHING
IMPLEMENTING MECHANISM APPROPRIATING FUNDS
THEREFORE AND OTHER PURPOSE”

References
https://www.un.org/en/global-issues/human-rights
https://www.humanrightscareers.com/issues/definitions-what-is-human-
dignity/#:~:text=At%20its%20most%20basic%2C%20the,other
%20than%20them%20being%20human.
https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/indigenouspeoples