Weekend HR Posts Rundown and Analysis 11 September, 2011

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Weekend HR Posts Rundown and Analysis
11 September, 2011

Human Rights Online Philippines features articles, blogs, news information and photos on human rights issues. It provides up-to-date information on human rights activities, events, campaigns, and solidarity actions in the Philippines. It aims not only to put human rights at the center of national discourse through digital media but also to elicit response from the public.

This week has been news and activity-filled information for HR postings.

Due to the variety of human rights issues and concerns posted for this week, HRonlinePH decided to present this week rundown not through its typical contextual analysis but through the rights based approach. This is for our valued readers and subscribers to easily see and understand the real state of the human rights situation in the country.

1. Right to work
The Universal Declaration of Human rights (UDHR) states in Article 23 the following:

(1) Everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favorable conditions of work and to protection against unemployment;

(2) Everyone, without any discrimination, has the right to equal pay for equal work;

(3) Everyone who works has the right to just and favorable remuneration ensuring for himself and his family an existence worthy of human dignity, and supplemented, if necessary, by other means of social protection; and

(4) Everyone has the right to form and to join trade unions for the protection of his interests.

Moreover, Article 24 also states that:

(1)   Everyone has the right to rest and leisure, including reasonable limitation of working hours and periodic holidays with pay.

Thus to express our solidarity for the Philippine Airlines Employees Association (PALEA) which is in a tug-0f-war battle with PAL management in the planned termination of 2,600 employees this year and all other workers whose security to work is under peril, HRonlinePH deemed it necessary to post statements, activities and events in is support of the labor struggle.

Posted articles:

  • [Press Release] PM slams PAL service providers as illegal contractors
  • [Statement] CHURCH LABOR CONFERENCE Statement of Support to the Struggle of the PALEA and the Filipino Workers
  • [Blogger] Unity, Solidarity For PALEA – Life in a Box
  • [Press Release] Big labor and church groups reiterate support for PALEA as major battle looms
  • [Press Release] PALEA renews protest as outsourcing deadline nears
  • [Press Release] Church and workers unity a ‘positive step’ amidst grim labor conditions – CTUHR
  • [From the web] The Story Behind Subic-made ships of Hanjin
  • [In the news] Nationwide four-day work pushed – http://www.mb.com.ph
  • [Press Release] PALEA slams dagdag-bawas offer to outsourced workers

2. Right to a standard of living

The UDHR states in Article 25 that:

(1)   Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control.

HRonlinePH deemed it necessary to post issues, events, and statements that assert this people’s basic right.

Posted articles:

3. Rights of Indigenous People

The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples which was adopted by the General Assembly, on 13 September 2007 sets out the individual and collective rights of indigenous peoples, as well as their rights to culture, identity, language, employment, health, education and other issues. Yet to this day, Indigenous Peoples continue to face serious threats to their basic existence due to systematic government policies.

The Declaration emphasizes the rights of indigenous peoples to maintain and strengthen their own institutions, cultures and traditions, and to pursue their development in keeping with their own needs and aspirations.

Thus HRonline deemed it necessary to post issues, events and statements that highlight the plight of our Indigenous people.

Posted articles:

4. Gender rights and equality

The UDHR states that:
(1)   Article 1. All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.
(2)   Article 2. Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, color, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it be independent, trust, non-self-governing or under any other limitation of sovereignty.

Women’s rights are spelled out in a number of international treaties. Yet there are still societies that discriminate women and are treated unequal and inhumane. On the other hand, many people are still subject to persistent human rights violations because of their actual or perceived sexual orientation and gender identity.

In support to this cause, HRonlinePH deemed it necessary to post opinion, news, and events that show underlying issues that undermine this right.

Posted articles:

  • [Blogger] Hits & Misses: The Real Issues behind the LGBT News – Maximum Exposure
  • [In the news] 7 Bataan villages ban artificial contraceptives – http://www.philstar.com
  • [Blogger] (RH BILL)And you just want to get this over with – koihernandez.wordpress.com

5. Rights to education

The UDHR provides in article 26, that:

(1) Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be free, at least in the elementary and fundamental stages. Elementary education shall be compulsory. Technical and professional education shall be made generally available and higher education shall be equally accessible to all on the basis of merit;

(2) Education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. It shall promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations, racial or religious groups, and shall further the activities of the United Nations for the maintenance of peace; and

(3) Parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education that shall be given to their children.

HRonlinePH deemed it necessary to post articles, news and events that show why education remains a privilege rather than a right.

Posted articles:

  • [Event] TDC meets with Bro. Armin
  • [In the news] Scrimped spending for schools stagnates quality of education – http://www.manilatimes.net
  • [In the news] LFS hits PNoy for ‘dictatorship’ remark – abs-cbnNEWS.com
  • [In the news] No more empty promises – opinion.inquirer.net

6. Guarantee and protection of civil and political rights

The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights recognizes the fundamental rights to life and freedom. The state has the obligation not only to guarantee these rights but also to protect these rights from any forms of infringement. The National human rights institutions are established to ensure that human rights are promoted and protected by the states.

Thus, HRonlinePH deemed it necessary to post issues, opinions, news and events which shows how civil and political rights are still being violated.

Posted articles:

  • [Blogger] Reaping the fruits of labor by Darwin Mendiola
  • [Blogger] Tama na, Sobra na, Masyadong masakit na – Matrics ni Parics
  • [In the news] Palace: Philippine anti-terror law needs more teeth – INQUIRER.net
  • [In the news] Media malaki ang naitutulong sa pagsugpo ng krimen — CHR – http://www.journal.com.ph
  • [In the news] WikiLeaks releases report on vigilantes in Cebu – http://www.sunstar.com.ph
  • [In the news] Victims of human rights violations remembered – http://www.philippineasiannewstoday.com
  • [in the news] ‘US backed state abuse in Philippines’ -Wikileak
  • [In the news] Feared Ampatuan clan outgunned Philippine military—WikiLeaks
  • [In the news] Eyewitness identifies Army major as one of Jonas’s abductors – bulatlat.com

7. Rights to peace

We believe that peace is a prerequisite for the exercise of all human rights and duties. It is not the peace of silence, but rather the peace of freedom and just society in realization of happiness, equality, and solidarity in which all citizens should enjoy and share.

HRonlinePH deemed it necessary to post news and events which show that peace is not just an issue of the government but of the whole society.

Posted articles:

  • [In the news] Tribal leader urges gov’t, communist rebels to resume peace talks – Inquirer.net
  • [In the news] NPA rebs demand SOMO in 4 provinces for captives’ release – http://www.philstar.com
  • [In the news] MILF brands ARMM as Malacañang’s ‘arm’ – http://www.tribuneonline.org

7. Right to information

The UDHR in Article 19 states that:

(1)   Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.

Access to government information is a human right. This is considered as one element of freedom of expression, which is an “indispensable condition for the full development of the person” and “the foundation stone for every free and democratic society.”

HRonlinePH deemed it necessary to post news, events and statements that show how this right is important not only for individual human development but also for societal change.

Posted articles:

[In the news] DFA launches ‘Philippine Treaties Online’ – http://www.philstar.com
[From the web] Tales of the Amazonas – http://www.pcij.org
[Press Release] In commemoration of the 20th year of RP-US Military Bases rejection Hundred cyclists pedal Manila to Subic, retrace “Lakbayan” route

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