Young people in Dumaguete helped promote the value of human rights through a showcase of talent in the country’s first cultural festival on human rights which was held recently in this City of Gentle People.
Anchored on the theme, “Harmony for Humanity,” the human rights cultural festival aimed to raise awareness on the positive aspects of human rights through artistic expression.
The United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network – Youth (UNSDSN-Youth) and the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) organized the event in cooperation with the City Government of Dumaguete through the Local Youth Development Office.
Among the schools that the group conducted discussions and performances was Foundation University, which just celebrated its 75th (Diamond Jubilee).
“We aim to launch the wonderful contributions of the youth in the name of human rights. We want to show that human rights is not just about graphic acts, but is a positive aspiration, a celebration wherein every individual, every person has the right to live a life with not just the basic necessities, but a life towards a better standard of living,” said Christopher Doroja, network coordinator for the Philippines of UNSDSN.
“The thing about human rights is that it is all- encompassing, anything and everything that has an impact on human dignity, even the quality of the food that we eat, the nature of the news that we receive, whether or not we have access to cultural performances, these are parts and components of human rights. It’s all encompassing,” said Atty. Euvic Ferrer, Attorney V of CHR 7.
Students, representatives of youth groups, and young leaders joined the cultural festival. They performed song and dance numbers and spoken poetry while youth groups screened their short digital videos and exhibited their artworks to highlight the importance of equality, justice, and the quest for improved quality of living.
The event also aimed to raise funds for human rights-related initiatives of youth groups in the city.
Aside from this, Doroja also cited that they are campaigning for city government officials to craft ordinances that would establish human rights defenders.
“We urge the local government of Dumaguete City to really push on the passing of the Human Rights Defenders Ordinance. We are hoping that in the years to come there will be passing of human rights ordinances,” Doroja said.
Meanwhile, Dumaguete City Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Federation vice-president Crissan Charls Bantaya said the festival highlighted the use of culture and the arts in expressing the advocacies to the youth.
“Being a city with a lot of youth members, especially the voting populace, having this event recognizes the significance and importance of the youth sector especially in upholding human rights, basic rights enshrined in our Constitution,” Bantaya said. | NWI
