Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. slammed the west over its supposed "monopoly" of good governance, saying the Philippines acknowledges that while there are many ways to govern countries, one sure way to treat people is with decency.
Locsin made the statement as he expressed his support for the National Human Rights Consciousness Week (NHRCW) from December 4 to 10, 2021.
In his video message, Locsin said the Philippines is aware that there are numerous ways to govern countries.
"The west has no monopoly of good governance but there is only one way to treat people and that is with decency and the utmost regard for their safety and well-being in any circumstances," he said.
Despite this, he said the country is proud of the United Nations (UN) Joint Program: Technical Cooperation and Capacity-building for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights in the Philippines that was launched in July this year.
"We are proud of the UN joint program, an innovative model for in-country assistance in upholding human rights by working with key stakeholders," he said.
Meanwhile, Locsin said he was honored to join human rights defenders in commemorating the National Human Rights Consciousness Week.
According to Locsin, he played a part in the vindication and victory of human rights in the country over its systematic violation by "over its systematic violation by overthrowing a military-backed dictatorship, a snap election, peaceful people power protests, and a military breakaway led by a friend of my youth Col. Gregorio Honasan with the Reform the Armed Forces Movement modeled after the carnation revolution carried out with tanks."
He stressed that in the new realism, violating human rights achieves no purpose but ultimately frustrates the most heartless ambition for total power.
"There is never any need, there is never any gain to be made by being savage and cruel even to your enemies and it doesn't intimidate the public into craven obedience," Locsin said.
This year’s NHRCW takes place with the theme, "Equality - Reducing Inequalities, Advancing Human Rights. Pagkapantay-pantay: Isulong ang mga Karapatang Pantao sa Panahon ng Pandemya."
The DFA joins the entire nation and members of the Inter-agency Committee co-chaired by the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) and the Civil Service Commission (CSC) in commemorating the observance of National Human Rights Consciousness Week (NHRCW) from 4 to 10 Dec 2021. (1/4) pic.twitter.com/aS27W4sbVB
— DFA Philippines (@DFAPHL) December 4, 2021
The observance will culminate on December 10, the anniversary day of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and is celebrated as International Human Rights Day.
In a tweet, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said the Philippines "reaffirms its commitment, as a founding signatory to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, to the promotion and fulfillment of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all."