National Human Rights Consciousness Week

Did you know that every year the week of December 4th to December 10th is National Human Rights Consciousness Week?  I did not until I saw this banner hung up by the PNP.

Can you say irony? Believe it or not the PNP really does promote NHRC week.  Here is an FB post from last year, 2018.

https://www.facebook.com/pnp.pio/posts/2421590221215553

I think you know exactly what I will say here. We all know the PNP's human rights record is not exactly stellar. It is not only the PNP who is directed to celebrate NHRC week.  All government offices are to do so.  Here is the law, R.A. 9201 in full.

Republic of the Philippines
Congress of the Philippines
Metro Manila

Twelfth Congress
Second Regular Session

Begun held in Metro Manila on Monday, the twenty-second day of July, two thousand two

Republic Act No. 9201             April 01, 2003

AN ACT DECLARING DECEMBER 4 TO 10 AS NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS CONSCIOUSNESS WEEK IN THE COUNTRY AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippine Congress Assembled:

SECTION 1. This Act shall be known as the "National Human Rights Consciousness Week Act of 2002".

SEC. 2. December 4 to 10 is hereby declared as National Human Rights Consciousness Week in the country.

SEC. 3. All government agencies, including government-owned and-controlled corporations, shall celebrate the week through simple and appropriate ceremonies and activities to make the people aware of their basic human rights in relation to the functions and services offered by these government instrumentalities.

SEC. 4. All levels of education/learning institutions, both public and private, shall celebrate the week through simple adn appropriate ceremonies and activities to propagate, particularly among the students, a human rights culture that aims at sustainable development in the country.

SEC. 5. A national committee composed of the following shall take the lead in the preparation and implementation of the guidelines on how to celebrate the week through simple and appropriate ceremonies and activities:

(1) Chairperson of the Commission on Human Rights		-	Chairperson;
(2) Chairperson of the Civil Service Commission		-	Vice-Chairperson;
(3) One (1) representative from each of the following government agencies as members:
	(a) Department of Education;
	(b) Department of National Defense;
	(c) Department of Justice;
	(d) Department of Social Welfare and Development;
	(e) Department of Foreign Affairs;
	(f) Department of Labor and Employment;
	(g) Department of the Interior and Local Government;
	(h) Philippine National Police
(4) One (1) representative each from two (2) human rights nongovernment organizations as members, to be appointed by the President upon recommendation of the Commission on Human Rights

SEC. 6. This Act shall take effect upon its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.1ªvvphï|.ñêt

Approved,

FRANKLIN DRILON President of the Senate

JOSE DE VENECIA JR. Speaker of the House of Representatives

This Act, which is a consolidation of Senate Bill No. 2413 and House Bill No. 4526 was finally passed by the Senate and the House of Representatives on December 3, 2002 and January 13, 2003 respectiveley

OSCAR G. YABES Secretary of Senate

ROBERTO P. NAZARENO Secretary General House of Represenatives

Approved: April 1, 2003

GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO
President of the Philippines

https://www.lawphil.net/statutes/repacts/ra2003/ra_9201_2003.html

Approved April 1st 2003.  April Fools day. Figures huh?  Take note of section 3.

SEC. 3. All government agencies, including government-owned and-controlled corporations, shall celebrate the week through simple and appropriate ceremonies and activities to make the people aware of their basic human rights in relation to the functions and services offered by these government instrumentalities.

How will all government agencies celebrate NHRC week under the Duterte administration?  The man has publicly made known his disdain for human rights.

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/08/rodrigo-duterte-human-rights-160806211448623.html

Earlier on Saturday, Duterte had vowed to keep his "shoot-to-kill" order "until the last day of my term, if I'm still alive by then". 

"I don't care about human rights, believe me," he said, according to official transcripts released by the presidential palace.

Maybe I do not pay attention enough but I have never heard of this National Human Rights Consciousness Week until now and probably for good reason. Human rights are not a big deal in the Philippines and the record of the PNP, AFP, and the government in general, not just under the Duterte administration bears this out.