CHR says it’s not easy to make human rights a `trending topic’
The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) underscored the importance of training current and aspiring journalists in reporting human rights, a topic that it said most Filipinos do not usually discuss. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) underscored the importance of training current and aspiring journalists in reporting human rights, a topic that, it said, most Filipinos do not usually discuss or find appealing.
In his speech before the first-ever Training on Human Rights-Based Approaches to Reporting, CHR chairperson Richard Palpal-latoc admitted that human rights as a subject of discussion is not appealing.
However, the CHR head said discussing human rights should not be complicated.
“Bakit kailangang mag-ulat tungkol sa karapatang pantao? Lalo na sa kasikatan ngayon ng short-form content sa social media, alam ng Komisyon na mahirap gampanan ang hamong ito para sa ating lahat. Ito kasi ang katotohanan sa ating lipunan: hindi madaling ipa-trending ang konsepto ng human rights sa ating bayan,” Palpal-latoc said.
(Why do we need to report on human rights? Especially with the rise of short-form content on social media, the Commission knows that it is hard to fulfill this duty of informing people about human rights. This is the truth within our society: it is not easy to make human rights concepts a trending topic.)
“Para sa masang Pilipino, hindi sila kayang busugin, patawanin, o aliwin ng mga teknikal na salitang pumapalibot sa karapatang pantao. Hindi naman dapat maging komplikado ang human rights. We have to acknowledge they are beyond a legal framework — they are a moral compass that guides our work,” he added.
(The Philippine masses cannot be fed or entertained by technical words surrounding human rights. But human rights discussions do not have to be complicated.)
According to Palpal-latoc, the media plays an important role in delivering the message of human rights so that the public can understand how each person’s dignity should be protected.
“Hindi lamang ang technicalities sa usaping pamamahayag ang dahilan kung bakit narito tayo. We will go beyond the formalities. Bilang Fourth Estate, ang layunin natin ay maging effective storytellers para sa mga karapatan ng isang jeepney driver, isang manininda, isang magsasaka, at para sa bawat ordinaryong Pilipino,” he said.
(We are not here only to discuss technicalities regarding reporting about human rights. We will go beyond the formalities. As the Fourth Estate, our goal is to be compelling storytellers to promote the rights of jeepney drivers, store operators, farmers, and all ordinary Filipinos.)
“Each story we convey must be based on respect for the inherent dignity and equality of all. Malawak ang impluwensya ng media sa paghulma ng isang mapagpalayang bansa kung saan ang karapatan ng bawat isa ay nirerespeto, kinikilala, at isinasabuhay. Tinig ninyo ang nagpapalakas sa mga usaping mahalaga ukol sa karapatang pantao,” he added.
(Media has a vast influence in molding a democratic country where everyone’s rights are respected, acknowledged, and actualized. Your voices would strengthen the discussions regarding pressing topics about human rights.)
CHR received a huge amount of backlash during the time of former President Rodrigo Duterte after it raised concerns over the spate of killings under his war against illegal drugs.
During his second State of the Nation Address (Sona) in July 2017, Duterte threatened to abolish the CHR for being critical of his administration’s drug war, adding that he would not allow the police or the military to be investigated by the commission without them first talking to him.
“I will not allow my men to go there to be investigated. Human Rights Commission, you address your request through me because the Armed Forces are under me, and the police are under me. Kaya ‘pag kinuwestyon ninyo sila for investigation, dadaan muna sa akin (That’s why if you have to question them for investigation, they will have to go through me),” he said.
In the following year’s Sona, Duterte delivered a line that has been repeatedly used by CHR critics—that his concern is human lives, not human rights.
READ: Duterte threatens to abolish CHR
In January 2021, the CHR called out the administration for not including them in the inter-agency panel that was tasked to review the drug war deaths, saying that this goes against the Duterte government’s commitments during the 44th Session of the Human Rights Council.
In a 2022 report, CHR said that Duterte left a government that has “failed in its obligations to protect human rights” and that has “encouraged a culture of impunity” as it has not allowed officers involved in questionable drug war operations to be brought to justice.
READ: For the record: Duterte leaves a legacy of impunity – CHR
Palpal-latoc hopes the training will allow the media to help the CHR promote more meaningful discussions on human rights.
“Umaasa ang CHR sa isang makabuluhang talakayan kasama ninyong lahat, tungo sa pagtataguyod ng isang mas makatarungang Pilipinas. Ang pagtitipong ito ay para rin sa CHR, para mas makilala namin kayo bilang aming force multipliers sa pagtatanggol ng mga karapatang pantao,” he said.
(CHR hopes we will have a fruitful discussion with you to create a more just Philippines. This meeting is also for CHR, to better understand our force multipliers in terms of defending human rights.)
“Sama-sama nating itaguyod ang midyang makatao, malaya, at mapagpalaya,” he added.
(Let us together uphold a media that is humane and free, which will also free others.)
