The 2010 Presidential Hopefuls and a Human Rights Agenda

For its latest Kapihan, the Philippine Working Group for an ASEAN Human Rights Mechanism (PWG) decided to move away from its traditional forum on the prevailing human rights situation in the country. According to PWG Chairperson Wigberto E. Tañada, the reformatting of this particular Kapihan was critical in light of the 2010 elections and the significance of getting the presidential candidates to present and commit to a concrete human rights action plan.

This Kapihan entitled “Towards a Meaningful Human Rights Agenda,” will be conducted in a two-part forum series. The first one, which was held last 12 January 2010, gathered the basic and/or marginalized sectors and afforded them the opportunity to discuss priority issues which they believe should be included in the next administration’s human rights agenda. Representatives from groups working with labor, persons with disabilities, migrant workers, women, youth, civil and political rights, indigenous peoples, urban poor, fisherfolks and farmers, the public sector, children and LGBTs were present in the said forum wherein apart from highlighting their human rights concerns, participants were also given the opportunity to make recommendations and suggestions on how to address such issues.

Prior to the sectoral discussions of different human rights concerns, Chairperson Leila M. de Lima of the Commission on Human Rights gave a concise presentation of the human rights situation in the Philippines. After looking into the Maguindanao Massacre as a “template for human rights ills” in the country and pointing out how frustrating it is to know that “the very first line of human rights defense transforms into the first line of human rights violations,” Chair de Lima also briefly identified other human rights issues including those concerning specific sectors. She concluded her presentation by reminding everyone of the impact of the upcoming elections. “It is a test of our intelligence, our memory, our indignation, our celebrated values…Our votes and the leaders we elect, and their adherences to human rights, will be our judge.”

The second part of the two-part forum series tentatively scheduled for February, will ideally have the presidential candidates in attendance. This particular forum hopes to bring the frontrunners of the presidential race together in one forum to discuss their envisioned plan of action for human rights. The consolidated paper from the first part of the Kapihan will be presented as civil society input for the next administration’s human rights agenda.

Since 2002, the annual “Kapihan on Human Rights” of the PWG has been a venue where the different branches of government and civil society are given the opportunity to elaborate on their plans and present their assessments on the prevailing human rights situation in the country. It is also designed to bring them together for a constructive dialogue and discussion of different human rights related issues.

View the Welcome Remarks of Chairperson Wigberto E. Tañada here.

View the Speech of Chairperson Leila M. de Lima here.