Drilon: Don’t sacrifice human rights

Senate President Franklin Drilon has called on the international community not to sacrifice human rights in the fight against terrorism.

Speaking at the 107th International Parliamentarians’ Union Conference (IFU) in Morocco recently, Drilon said the war against international terrorists would be successful if states do not violate the human rights of their citizens.

"One thing should guide us always in this war: that in the end, it is people’s lives that are at stake," he said. "That we can only claim victory with conviction if we know deep in our hearts that we ourselves did not resort to state terrorism and violence."

Drilon said in fighting terrorism, governments were often caught between the "thin line" dividing moral and legal issues.

"Do countries violate international standards on human rights when some basic liberties are curtailed to preserve peace and order and provide security for the greater majority?" he said. "Is there a need to redefine some basic understanding on the application of human rights vis-a-vis national and international human rights standards?"

Drilon said governments must always abide by the 1946 Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the 1949 Geneva Convention, which is each a "magna carta" of human rights and international humanitarian law.

"We therefore would like to call upon our colleagues in the IFU to ensure that our respective governments and parliaments adhere to their commitments under these international instruments in their efforts to prevent, combat and eliminate terrorism in all its forms and manifestations," he said.

Drilon also endorsed to the IFU a proposal of the president of the National Assembly of Cambodia during a recent international dialogue in Manila that parliamentary action on human rights be interwoven with promoting the rule of law, strengthening of democratic institutions, good governance in public and private institutions, promoting peace, and intensifying human rights education. –Aurea Calica