HUMAN RIGHTS

Human rights protect us from the abuses we could get politically, socially or
legally. They are already given to us ever since we took our first breath; we are
entitled to have them. Human rights do not choose who they should be given to and
no one should be deprived of that, unless they do something that violates these
rights at some degree. Because of these rights, no one should be a burden, we
should treat each other equally, there should be no discrimination, no exceptions.

But some people are so blinded with power, authority or money (or simply because
they forget to check their privileges) that they step on people and disregard their
perspective and rights. I am starting to sound like a social justice warrior, but
really, as the world gets more and more advanced, the privileged ones get more
corrupt and so stuck up because of the mind set they have of being "above anyone
else" and it is so sad because this is something not easy to help balance our
nature out.

Here in the Philippines, the issue of human rights is that, some people neither do
not realize they have these rights nor know what they really are because of poverty
or because they are looked down on. Filipinos will never not have this "crab"
mentality and I think that is why surviving is such a struggle here in our
democratic country. With what has been happening recently, I want to know if our
government really value our rights as human (especially that the CHR is given the
2018 budget of 1,000php for the protection of human rights).

I know our current president is out to hunt drug abusers and addicts and the
corrupt regardless of how high or low these bastards are on their pedestals, for
the betterment of our country, but how could there be innocents affected badly?
Much worse if it was intentional? This issue complicates the progress and safety of
our country; some officials held by the government seem to be so greedy that they
step on people with a different upbringing.

On the streets, there would be harassments happening. Perverts lurking and

catcalling on their targets (then say "it was just a harmless whistle. geez..."),
traffic enforcers/police officers not doing their job properly like giving wrong
fines to whoever they pull over on the side, most especially the jeepney drivers.

I also notice these rich people getting away with almost everything because, well,
they are rich. They might have killed someone not as fortunate as they are, they
can still get away with it. Run over someone and not help them, still get away with
it. Embarrass blue-collar workers, still get away with it.

There are so many lives put in jeopardy because of social status or who is much
more dominant. Some victims do not even get justice for it.

"But what about the criminals?"

"The CHR defends criminals, too!"

The criminals have these rights, too. The thing is, if they are accountable to
taking away the rights of somebody (especially the right to live), they, of course,
will face sanctions depending on the degree of the crime they committed. And no,
taking away their life is not always the answer. May be, but just not to every
crime.

Anyway, a lot has been happening lately in our country when it comes to human
rights. May or may not be exposed on the news. There is discrimination to the LGBT
and in general, we also have racism, maltreating some people who has a blue-collar
job, sex-slavery, human trafficking. Philippines may be small but there is a lot
happening everyday.
Twisted minds are really unavoidable but they need to be stopped.

shazeen.cruz@gmail.com