The October 16 news story published by the online edition of Negros Chronicle featured a brief update on human rights violations in the city of Dumaguete.
In that news feature, it emphasizes the minimal rate of human rights violations in the city and in the province, the reason of which is, because police officers are well versed on the provisions of the law regarding that type of infraction.
Further, in that story, the province’ CHR head Dr. Jesus Cañete, comments that there is something wrong with the recruitment process of the police because most violators have ranks of PO1 to PO3s. Further saying that the best that the CHR can do is to take part in the drafting of the training modules where human rights values will be instructed to new recruits.
Personally, I believe this is a laudable suggestion from the CHR. And I am hoping that they can start on implementing this logical and compassionate idea as soon as they can. However, I would like to add that more than ingesting instruction about human rights values to adults in the police force or in any workplace, it would also be best to assimilate this kind of instruction in teaching very young children, that way, when they become adults we don’t have to clean up their mess if they violate or trample upon the rights of other people. As the cliché goes, ‘start them young.’ Furthermore, Proverbs 22:6 says “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”
It is to my belief that nationals in our country, especially children and youth who are at the early and critical phases of their growth and development as human beings, should be made conscious of the fact that they have rights and as rights-holders they have duties and obligations with regards to these rights. It is likewise pivotal that at an early stage, the values of order, tolerance and respect for differences of peoples and cultures are infused among children and youth.
In achieving these goals, the roles and contribution of educators have to be acknowledged and fortified. As pillars of the educational structure, teachers should possess the competency and dedication in carrying out their tasks as change catalysts and human rights and peace advocates within our society. Similarly, the role of parents in making children cognizant of human rights values cannot be ignored. Like the old saying goes, “charity begins at home,” the teaching of human rights values must also start from the “cradle.”
Why is it essential to teach children about human rights? Here are some reasons why human rights education is vital to children’s development:
Because it is their right: Article 42 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child provides that children have the right to know their rights. Adults have the responsibility to ensure that children are informed and can exercise their rights.
To intensify respect for human rights: Knowing about your rights is an initial step in promoting greater respect for human rights. In places where children are conscious of their rights, there is generally a better respect for and fewer abuses of children’s rights.
Human rights values are globally acknowledged: Adults who work with children are perpetually confronted with the job of ascertaining which behaviors are acceptable and which are not. Making these types of decisions usually entails relying on personal experiences or values. Human rights education provides then a clear-cut structure for assessing when and how to step in or how by referring to the globally acknowledged values that originate directly from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Encourage the development of self-esteem and active participation: Once children become aware of their rights, they begin to recognize their own importance as human beings. They also start to realize that what they live, think and feel has value and that they can make a positive contribution to the life of the group, of their family, their school, and their community. Learning about rights encourages children to become more actively involved.
Strengthen constructive behavior: Human rights education is one of the most effective ways of encouraging positive behaviour because it involves both critical reflection and a strengthening of the child’s sense of responsibility. Human rights education encourages children to reflect on how they interact with others and on how they can change their behaviour to better reflect human rights values. The result is that they are not only more aware of the importance of respect, cooperation, and inclusion, but are also better equipped to implement these values into practice in their daily lives.
If we are having problems today with violations of human rights, it may not be because law enforcers are brutal or they are by nature sadistic, or that people naturally desire to go against authority. It may be because we parents didn’t find the time to teach our children how to respect other people’s rights when they were young.
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Author’s email: wea_129@yahoo.com
