A human rights dream

Human Rights Defenders-Pilipinas joins the global community in commemorating the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture. The relevance of this event cannot be overemphasized, considering that human rights defenders, in the Philippines and elsewhere, continue to be subjected to relentless attack. People’s organizations are vilified as terrorists and enemies of the state. Their members, supporters and organizers are tagged as communists. Movements are watched; projects and actions are eyed with suspicion. Human rights defenders are threatened, placed under surveillance and driven to risk.

We join the international appeal for the total abolition of the use of torture.

We dream of a place where human rights defenders are sincerely considered partners in spreading a worldwide culture of human rights, peace and development; where torture is a thing of the past; and where human rights defenders are protected as they go about their tasks.

Human Rights Defenders-Pilipinas would like to take this significant day as an opportunity to remind everyone that torture has no place in a civilized society. This is our protocol. This is our challenge. This is our urgent call in a country where torture is subliminally accepted as “standard operating procedure” of the security sector; where pain is inflicted without remorse to exact confession and to break torture victims, their families, friends and organizations and to cow human rights defenders from pursuing their cause, as well as peace, justice and development.

A compassionate society is a torture-free society. It seeks to eliminate cruel, degrading and inhuman conditions. It even looks at the circumstance of prisoners and the state of their incarceration.

We call for special attention to the case of Mariano Umbrero, a prisoner of conscience suffering from fourth-stage cancer. Together with the Task Force Detainees of the Philippines (TFDP) and the rest of the human rights community, we are appealing to President Aquino that he be granted, on humanitarian grounds, immediate pardon or executive clemency. Due to his medical condition, his case needs urgent action; aside from the fact that the Constitution provides that no one shall be deprived of liberty for his political beliefs.

Given the prevailing conditions, we call for a reorientation on human rights values in our institutions. Lest we forget, in a functioning democracy, every citizen is responsible for each and everyone, including the ordinary people. Thus, protecting human rights defenders and upholding their rights are a responsibility of every member of a democratic community.

—RENATO MABUNGA,

chair, Human Rights Defenders-Pilipinas, hrd.pilipinas@gmail.com