#HumanRights #ChaCha

iDefend statement on moves to revise the 1987 Constitution

In Defense of Human Rights and Dignity Movement (iDEFEND) believes that the many crises besetting our country do not stem from a flawed Charter, but in the neglect and the gross violation of its provisions, by the very officials sworn to uphold and defend it. Renewed attempts at revising the 1987 Constitution repeats the claim that progress requires it. We have yet to begin to fully implement our Constitution in order to see real progress, but self-interests within the government have already betrayed it.

The Philippine constitution enshrines the principles and policies that guarantee the right of every Filipino to live in freedom and dignity by ensuring that the State provides adequate social services, full employment and a decent standard of living; it mandates the promotion of social justice in all aspects of national development and holds full respect for human rights.

The Constitution provides for a national economy based on self-reliance, agrarian reform and the promotion of the rights of indigenous cultural communities as the means to achieving our people’s aspirations for peace, justice and inclusive development. Nevertheless, laws and policies have been promulgated to undermine these provisions, thus resulting in chronic poverty, injustice, deprivation and exploitation. Socio-economic, political and cultural systems have perpetuated violations of our Constitution with impunity, which only benefits the ruling elite sectors of society.

Read full statement @idefend.ph