Human rights groups call for end of drug war, martial law in Mindanao
CEBU CITY, Philippines – Human Rights groups are calling for the end of the martial law in Mindanao and the end of the war on drugs on the anniversary of the signing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights today (December 10).
Lawyer Vincent Isles, representing the Cebu Action Group, said that the ‘ruthless’ and ‘merciless’ killings of alleged drug users is the devaluation of human life in the country.
“Ngano sila man atong pamatyon nga sila (drug users) man ang kinahanglan sa atong tabang? Nagpakita lang nga gamay ang pagtan-aw sa administrasyon sa kinabuhi sa tawo,” Isles told Cebu Daily News.
(Why are we killing the drug users when they are the ones who need our help? It just shows how little the administration vaues human life.)
The Cebu Citizen’s Assembly took to the streets their sentiments on the spate of killings in Cebu and the extension of martial law in Mindanao.
At least eight organizations joined the torch protest from the Capitol grounds to the Fuente Osmeña Circle on Monday evening.
Cristina Oganiza, representative of the Akbayan party, said that more than the spate of killings, the Cebu Citizen’s Assembly is also calling for upholding the rights of women.
“Until now wala gihapon nawala ang rape jokes sa atong Presidente. Padayon gihapon ang pagpakulaw sa atong kababainhan. (Until now the rape jokes of the President have not stopped. The mocking of women continues),” said Oganiza.
Oganiza hoped that in remembrance of the 1945 Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the public would become more aware of their basic human rights, especially the right to life, and fight to protect these rights.
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is a document signed by members of the United Nations (UN) on December 10, 1948 in Paris, France.
The document contains the declaration of 3no0 articles affirming an individual’s rights such as the rights to life, equality, and freedom of speech.
This declaration paved the way for the ratification of UN’s International Bill of Rights in 1976.
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