Aspiring president Vice President Leni Robredo believes the reason why human rights are not being taken seriously is because it is not well understood in the country.
With this, Robredo took the opportunity during the second Pilipinas Presidential Debates 2022: The Turning Point organized by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to simplify the meaning and importance of human rights.
"Napakahalaga ng human rights dahil ito ay inherent, nabubuhay pa lang tayo nakadikit na yun sa'tin. Ito din ay inalienable, walang sino man ang pwedeng magtanggal sa atin ng ating karapatang pantao (Human rights is very important because it is inherent, it is already ingrained in us the moment we start living. This is also inalienable, no one can take our human rights away from us)," Robredo said.
"Pero siguro kaya siya malayo sa sikmura kasi hindi siya masyadong naiintindihan na 'pag sinabi nating human rights. Ito yung pinakabasic na karapatan nating lahat bilang tao (But maybe the reason why it is not taken seriously because human rights is not really understood. This is our basic right as a human)," she added.
The Vice President underscored this when she and fellow presidential candidates were asked if they believe that human rights is considered "malayo sa bituka" or something that is not fatal and is not commonly prioritized in conversations.
Robredo then went on to enumerate some of the basic human rights—from the right to life to the right to enjoy it.
"Karapatang mabuhay, karapatang hindi magutom, karapatang makapag-aral nang maayos, karapatan na maging malaya sa pamamahayag, karapatan na pumasok sa mga relationships, mag-asawa, karapatan na i-enjoy niya yung kanyang buhay (Right to life, right to food, to education, freedom of thought, right to enter a relationship, to marry, right to enjoy life)," the aspiring president said.