Our 1987 Philippine Constitution declares that, “The State values the dignity of every person and guarantees full respect for human rights,” and that, “No person shall be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law, nor shall any person be denied the equal protection of the laws.”
These statements have been in existence for decades and are usually referred to in various forms and settings. However, the Philippines still lacks a national policy that prohibits discriminatory practices, and human rights violations against LGBTIQ+ people and persons of diverse SOGIESC continue to be perpetrated by the very institutions tasked to protect and uphold them.
During the COVID lockdowns, several LGBT people were forced to dance and kiss each other in public as punishment for having violated the curfew. Several LGBT couples were excluded from receiving monetary and food aid because they “do not count as a family in the eyes of the local government.”
(https://www.thenewhumanitarian.org/news-feature/2020/06/24/LGBTQ-gender-coronavirus-discrimination-aid)
This year’s theme of Human Rights Day is “EQUALITY—Reducing inequalities, advancing human rights.” Let’s continue to stand with and fight for the rights of our siblings from the most vulnerable groups of our society. What we need are solutions and actions to address these deep-rooted forms of discrimination and exclusion.
Celebrate diversity! We are All Human, we are All Equal.
Happy Human Rights Day!🌈🌈🌈
#HumanRightsDay #StandUp4HumanRights #YestoEquality #SOGIEEqualityNow #LoveWins #LGBTRightsAreHumanRights #UpholdEqualRights #GALANGPhilippines
📷: https://www.un.org/en/observances/human-rights-day/resources#campaignmaterials
