Haunting visions on rights day

On human rights day (Dec. 10), we pause again to ask: How many more will be killed with impunity by the State though the death penalty has long been repealed? How many more will be disappeared and remain missing though we now have an antidisappearance law? How many more will be tortured or will continue to be tortured routinely, viciously, though we now have an antitorture law?

How many more political prisoners will remain in detention, falsely charged, even as we gloat (hypocritically) on a tricky and belated human rights victims compensation and recognition law? How many more will inordinately languish in jail though we have a plethora of rules on speedy trial?

How many more peaceful rallies will be violently dispersed, though we have a public assembly law recognizing the right?

How many more farmers will remain landless and live in penury, though we have a slew of agrarian reform laws? How many more workers will be laid off perfunctorily before six months, let alone without any decent jobs to start with, though we have laws on security of tenure?

How many more “informal settlers” will be rendered homeless via inhumane demolitions, though we have an urban development and housing law? How many more indigenous peoples will be involuntarily displaced by “development,” though we have a law on the need for free, informed and prior consent?

Ad infinitum.

One too many victims. Way too many violations. Yet so much elegant and fancy laws so widely disconnected with reality on the ground.

—EDRE U. OLALIA,
secretary general,
National Union of Peoplesí Lawyers,
[email protected]