International Human Rights Day 2018

Today, we join the global observance of the 70th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declration of Human Rights (UDHR).

On December 10, 1948, the Philippines became the first signatory to the UDHR, a landmark instrument that would pave the way for core human rights treaties to take shape in the succeeding years. Since then, the Philippines has signed eight of these core treaties, incorporated them in domestic laws and policies, and made them part of governance.

In what may be seen as an affirmation of our accomplishments, the country has been elected to its fifth term as a member of the 47-strong United Nations Human Rights Council.

Every administration has its own emphasis and approach in its effort to make human rights real for our people. Today, we further human rights in the era of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte along relevant paths reflected in our theme for this year’s observance: “Protecting human lives, uplifiting human dignity, and advancing people’s progress”.

To protect the lives of the innocent law-abiding citizens of the country, this administration remains unrelenting in its crusade against criminality, corruption, terrorism, insurgency, and the proliferation of illegal drugs that destroy families and the future of the young. In all these, the rule of law is upheld as the guilty are brought before the bar of justice.

By effectively implementing responsive programs that broaden people’s access to education, healthcare, employment, shelter, food, and basic utilities and services, the government fulfills its aspiration of a respectable standard of living that benefits the most vulnerable and marginalized groups in Philippine society. The government is resolute in uplifting the dignity of every Filipino.

Finally, the government is determined to work for sustainable progress that will better the lives of our people and their communities. In out quest for economic development that impacts communities at the grassroots, aggressive horizontal and vertical infrastructure development shall be undertaken to encourage more internal and external investments and partnerships.

Indeed, our celebration of seven decades of the UDHR reflects our confidence that we are advancing human rights in a manner that truly values and responds to the needs of the Filipinos.

With a 50-year-old deceptively obsolete ideology and a trail of bloody history behind them, the ruthless reputation of the CPP/NPA/ NDF precedes their every move and attempt to fool us some more that they just cannot be trusted ever.”

PNP spokesperson Chief Superintendent BENIGNO DURANA JR