ROJAS, MONICA L.
BSOAOUMN 2-C
ACTIVITY 2
REFLECTION PAPER
a) Why is Human Rights important in our society?
Human rights are the basic rights inherent to all human beings from birth until death. These
rights include the right to life and liberty, personal security, freedom from torture, freedom from
discrimination and freedom from arbitrary arrest, among others.
In our world today, more and more people have become aware and thus aspire to live in an
environment that protects the universal standards of human rights. Human rights provide
individuals power and strength because they allow us to keep pursuing peace, prosperity,
advancement, and sustainable development. The cause of human rights enlivens our
commitment to the realizations of the fullness of life. This is our collective task as a people in
solidarity with all the people of the world.
b) What should we learn about human rights with the Marcos Martial Law experience?
Martial law was declared in 21 sept 1972 & ended in 1986. Before martial law, human rights were
already abused especially the violent dispersal of street protests & the suspension of the writ of
habeas corpus in 1971. Martial law was declared to ensure the protection of the public, and
indeed, it fulfilled a part of that promise. But it also resulted in rampant human rights abuses
and a disastrous economy that took decades to fix. It wasted much of the country’s resources
and wasted the opportunity to lay down the foundations for a successful nation to prosper.
Ever heard of crab mentality among the populace … infighting out of envy, pulling each other
down the quagmire of decadence & underdevelopment.
The fundamental question: does every person respect the other person’s human rights? Look
past the usual culprit ( those in uniform). In every city, the proliferation of squatters & slums, the
victims of society’s social injustice committing equal injustice to property owners with land
occupation and rampant housebreak- ins, robbery & extortion reinforced by govt doctrine of
entitlements & society’s perverted “social equality” ( except the political & economic elites &
holders of power & authority). This is the new expanded face of the state of human rights after
martial law.
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c) In this time where crimes are heinous, is Human Rights relevant? Is it applicable to all
convicts?
All humans have, and deserve, human rights. Human rights cannot be lost, because they are not
conditional.
Human rights are not rights that certain people "deserve" because they are good; human rights
are rights, not privileges. All human beings have rights precisely because they are human.
Of course there are times when a convicted criminal cannot enjoy his/her right to, say, freedom
of movement.
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights explains it this way:
In the exercise of his rights and freedoms, everyone shall be subject only to such limitations as
are determined by law solely for the purpose of securing due recognition and respect for the
rights and freedoms of others and of meeting the just requirements of morality, public order and
the general welfare in a democratic society.