I came from an all-girl school that’s known for rallying students if you’ve
known for rallying students if you’ve
known for rallying students if you’ve heard of it and as early as elementary I
heard of it and as early as elementary I
heard of it and as early as elementary I was already out in the streets yelling
was already out in the streets yelling
was already out in the streets yelling no to ChaCha and I knew it wasn’t about
no to ChaCha and I knew it wasn’t about
no to ChaCha and I knew it wasn’t about dancing and we were also shouting about
dancing and we were also shouting about
dancing and we were also shouting about nuclear weapons against nuclear weapons
nuclear weapons against nuclear weapons
nuclear weapons against nuclear weapons and for world peace with this kind of
and for world peace with this kind of
and for world peace with this kind of fiery environment it was natural for me
fiery environment it was natural for me
fiery environment it was natural for me to find more explanation as to the
to find more explanation as to the
to find more explanation as to the things that we were fighting for
things that we were fighting for
things that we were fighting for and so I discovered women’s rights
and so I discovered women’s rights
and so I discovered women’s rights I was binging on all of the books in the
I was binging on all of the books in the
I was binging on all of the books in the library when one day my classmate
library when one day my classmate
library when one day my classmate approached me and said why are you
approached me and said why are you
approached me and said why are you reading that we don’t need it anymore
reading that we don’t need it anymore
reading that we don’t need it anymore I was a bit upset which was an
I was a bit upset which was an
I was a bit upset which was an understatement and maybe I considered
understatement and maybe I considered
understatement and maybe I considered ending a friendship at that time because
ending a friendship at that time because
ending a friendship at that time because I couldn’t understand why appear a
I couldn’t understand why appear a
I couldn’t understand why appear a fellow girl would say that we didn’t
fellow girl would say that we didn’t
fellow girl would say that we didn’t need it it was about equality of women
need it it was about equality of women
need it it was about equality of women and men why wouldn’t we need it and sure
and men why wouldn’t we need it and sure
and men why wouldn’t we need it and sure maybe we didn’t feel like we needed it
maybe we didn’t feel like we needed it
maybe we didn’t feel like we needed it but what about all those other women who
but what about all those other women who
but what about all those other women who are looking for it who needed it in
are looking for it who needed it in
are looking for it who needed it in their lives so I kept my friendship but
their lives so I kept my friendship but
their lives so I kept my friendship but more importantly I kept my interest with
more importantly I kept my interest with
more importantly I kept my interest with women’s rights and eventually human
women’s rights and eventually human
women’s rights and eventually human rights back then human rights was a
rights back then human rights was a
rights back then human rights was a vague idea in my head I knew it was
vague idea in my head I knew it was
vague idea in my head I knew it was about freedom and how people were
about freedom and how people were
about freedom and how people were supposed to live their lives and you
supposed to live their lives and you
supposed to live their lives and you might have heard of it a lot of times
might have heard of it a lot of times
might have heard of it a lot of times you probably seen it on television and
you probably seen it on television and
you probably seen it on television and looked at it on your news feeds read
looked at it on your news feeds read
looked at it on your news feeds read articles I mean just this week a
articles I mean just this week a
articles I mean just this week a controversial bill was passed in our
controversial bill was passed in our
controversial bill was passed in our legislative and a while ago permits were
legislative and a while ago permits were
legislative and a while ago permits were cancelled because they wanted to protect
cancelled because they wanted to protect
cancelled because they wanted to protect the environment for the
the environment for the
the environment for the while living in those areas so we’ve
while living in those areas so we’ve
while living in those areas so we’ve encountered it and we probably talked
encountered it and we probably talked
encountered it and we probably talked about it with friends and family my
about it with friends and family my
about it with friends and family my family knows that we’ve talked about it
family knows that we’ve talked about it
family knows that we’ve talked about it a lot of times and we have and I’ve
a lot of times and we have and I’ve
a lot of times and we have and I’ve heard so many things about human rights
heard so many things about human rights
heard so many things about human rights human rights advocates have been called
human rights advocates have been called
human rights advocates have been called by calimero we’ve been called social
by calimero we’ve been called social
by calimero we’ve been called social justice warriors I’ve heard protectors
justice warriors I’ve heard protectors
justice warriors I’ve heard protectors of criminals and I’ve also heard
of criminals and I’ve also heard
of criminals and I’ve also heard activists on mumble dog but there’s no
activists on mumble dog but there’s no
activists on mumble dog but there’s no shortage of communities that go to human
shortage of communities that go to human
shortage of communities that go to human rights advocates or look to human rights
rights advocates or look to human rights
rights advocates or look to human rights mechanisms to achieve or fulfill a right
mechanisms to achieve or fulfill a right
mechanisms to achieve or fulfill a right that they needed but what exactly was
that they needed but what exactly was
that they needed but what exactly was human rights human rights are rights
human rights human rights are rights
human rights human rights are rights inherent to all of us by virtue of being
inherent to all of us by virtue of being
inherent to all of us by virtue of being a human being and it’s codified under
a human being and it’s codified under
a human being and it’s codified under international law
international law
international law we have conventions we have treaties we
we have conventions we have treaties we
we have conventions we have treaties we have customary international law telling
have customary international law telling
have customary international law telling us what human rights law actually is and
us what human rights law actually is and
us what human rights law actually is and human rights actually sprung forth from
human rights actually sprung forth from
human rights actually sprung forth from a very dark chapter in our history
a very dark chapter in our history
a very dark chapter in our history you see back then the international
you see back then the international
you see back then the international community gathered together and realized
community gathered together and realized
community gathered together and realized had they codified these human rights
had they codified these human rights
had they codified these human rights early on then maybe the atrocities and
early on then maybe the atrocities and
early on then maybe the atrocities and horrors of the Second World War would
horrors of the Second World War would
horrors of the Second World War would not have happened and so we have the
not have happened and so we have the
not have happened and so we have the Universal Declaration on Human Rights
Universal Declaration on Human Rights
Universal Declaration on Human Rights which sprung into several conventions
which sprung into several conventions
which sprung into several conventions that looks into specific rights and also
that looks into specific rights and also
that looks into specific rights and also elaborates on rights of specific
elaborates on rights of specific
elaborates on rights of specific communities or groups like women
communities or groups like women
communities or groups like women children or migrant workers for example
children or migrant workers for example
children or migrant workers for example and it’s been said that human rights of
and it’s been said that human rights of
and it’s been said that human rights of four characteristics one it’s universal
four characteristics one it’s universal
four characteristics one it’s universal because each and every one of us has it
because each and every one of us has it
because each and every one of us has it by virtue of just us being human beings
by virtue of just us being human beings
by virtue of just us being human beings we were born that way too it’s
we were born that way too it’s
we were born that way too it’s indivisible you can’t pick and choose
indivisible you can’t pick and choose
indivisible you can’t pick and choose the ones that you want to address three
the ones that you want to address three
the ones that you want to address three it’s interrelated because each and every
it’s interrelated because each and every
it’s interrelated because each and every human right contributes to the
human right contributes to the
human right contributes to the fulfillment and the realization of the
fulfillment and the realization of the
fulfillment and the realization of the dignity of the human being and lastly
dignity of the human being and lastly
dignity of the human being and lastly it’s inalienable
it’s inalienable
it’s inalienable because you cannot sell it you cannot
because you cannot sell it you cannot
because you cannot sell it you cannot lose it you can’t sign it off in a
lose it you can’t sign it off in a
lose it you can’t sign it off in a waiver and be rid of it and most
waiver and be rid of it and most
waiver and be rid of it and most importantly no one can take it away from
importantly no one can take it away from
importantly no one can take it away from you and when we look into human rights
you and when we look into human rights
you and when we look into human rights who are the people that we are actually
who are the people that we are actually
who are the people that we are actually talking about in human rights we have
talking about in human rights we have
talking about in human rights we have the duty bearers the duty bear is the
the duty bearers the duty bear is the
the duty bearers the duty bear is the state and they are the ones with the
state and they are the ones with the
state and they are the ones with the obligation to fulfill promote and
obligation to fulfill promote and
obligation to fulfill promote and protect human rights and they are
protect human rights and they are
protect human rights and they are accountable to who to us every single
accountable to who to us every single
accountable to who to us every single one of us we are claims holders and we
one of us we are claims holders and we
one of us we are claims holders and we are rights holders and we are the ones
are rights holders and we are the ones
are rights holders and we are the ones who can demand our human rights from
who can demand our human rights from
who can demand our human rights from these institutions but we also have the
these institutions but we also have the
these institutions but we also have the responsibility to respect the human
responsibility to respect the human
responsibility to respect the human rights of others and we must also be
rights of others and we must also be
rights of others and we must also be assertive in claiming our human rights
assertive in claiming our human rights
assertive in claiming our human rights ok I know it sounds a bit confusing
ok I know it sounds a bit confusing
ok I know it sounds a bit confusing maybe and there’s a lot to take in
maybe and there’s a lot to take in
maybe and there’s a lot to take in and there’s just so many things with
and there’s just so many things with
and there’s just so many things with human rights for example we have the
human rights for example we have the
human rights for example we have the UDHR and then we also have the
UDHR and then we also have the
UDHR and then we also have the Convention on the elimination of
Convention on the elimination of
Convention on the elimination of discrimination of all forms of
discrimination of all forms of
discrimination of all forms of discrimination against women at the same
discrimination against women at the same
discrimination against women at the same time we have the Convention on the
time we have the Convention on the
time we have the Convention on the elimination of all forms of racial
elimination of all forms of racial
elimination of all forms of racial discrimination we have the International
discrimination we have the International
discrimination we have the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
Covenant on Civil and Political Rights but we also have the International
but we also have the International
but we also have the International Covenant on internet on International
Covenant on internet on International
Covenant on internet on International Covenant on economic social and cultural
Covenant on economic social and cultural
Covenant on economic social and cultural rights Lucy
rights Lucy
rights Lucy there’s ES CRI I see SCR ICCPR sido CR D
there’s ES CRI I see SCR ICCPR sido CR D
there’s ES CRI I see SCR ICCPR sido CR D so sadly selfie seashells by the
so sadly selfie seashells by the
so sadly selfie seashells by the seashore it’s all confusing right
seashore it’s all confusing right
seashore it’s all confusing right there’s just so many words in so many
there’s just so many words in so many
there’s just so many words in so many abbreviations but most of all it sounds
abbreviations but most of all it sounds
abbreviations but most of all it sounds very remote we don’t realize that we
very remote we don’t realize that we
very remote we don’t realize that we need human rights because of all these
need human rights because of all these
need human rights because of all these fancy words when in fact far from it
fancy words when in fact far from it
fancy words when in fact far from it human human rights actually permeate our
human human rights actually permeate our
human human rights actually permeate our daily lives like an invisible current
daily lives like an invisible current
daily lives like an invisible current take for example the Universal
take for example the Universal
take for example the Universal Declaration on Human Rights the UDHR so
Declaration on Human Rights the UDHR so
Declaration on Human Rights the UDHR so article 18 says that we have the freedom
article 18 says that we have the freedom
article 18 says that we have the freedom of choice we have the freedom of
of choice we have the freedom of
of choice we have the freedom of conscience thought a religion
conscience thought a religion
conscience thought a religion I mean all of us might have been born to
I mean all of us might have been born to
I mean all of us might have been born to the real a lot of us might have been
the real a lot of us might have been
the real a lot of us might have been born to the religion that we have today
born to the religion that we have today
born to the religion that we have today but we aren’t constrained to stay in one
but we aren’t constrained to stay in one
but we aren’t constrained to stay in one religion or we can even choose not to
religion or we can even choose not to
religion or we can even choose not to have a religion in the first place we
have a religion in the first place we
have a religion in the first place we have that choice we also have the right
have that choice we also have the right
have that choice we also have the right to freedom of expression of freedom of
to freedom of expression of freedom of
to freedom of expression of freedom of opinion and when you look on Facebook
opinion and when you look on Facebook
opinion and when you look on Facebook you see that there are so many opinions
you see that there are so many opinions
you see that there are so many opinions from one end of the spectrum to the
from one end of the spectrum to the
from one end of the spectrum to the other and it means that we are able to
other and it means that we are able to
other and it means that we are able to give these opinions freely and we aren’t
give these opinions freely and we aren’t
give these opinions freely and we aren’t constrained to say what we think about
constrained to say what we think about
constrained to say what we think about and we also have for example the right
and we also have for example the right
and we also have for example the right to rest in leisure we have that in
to rest in leisure we have that in
to rest in leisure we have that in article 24 and it basically means that
article 24 and it basically means that
article 24 and it basically means that we can all use these Cebu Pacific promos
we can all use these Cebu Pacific promos
we can all use these Cebu Pacific promos right so we have so many things we have
right so we have so many things we have
right so we have so many things we have the right to have a standard of living
the right to have a standard of living
the right to have a standard of living that is adequate to our that will
that is adequate to our that will
that is adequate to our that will address our health and our medical needs
address our health and our medical needs
address our health and our medical needs and it’s these are the things that we
and it’s these are the things that we
and it’s these are the things that we need every day these are the things that
need every day these are the things that
need every day these are the things that we see or the things that we would want
we see or the things that we would want
we see or the things that we would want to have in our lives so that would be
to have in our lives so that would be
to have in our lives so that would be security in our homes the fact that we
security in our homes the fact that we
security in our homes the fact that we have a house in the first place and it
have a house in the first place and it
have a house in the first place and it seems that we feel that the only time
seems that we feel that the only time
seems that we feel that the only time that we cry Human Rights is when we lose
that we cry Human Rights is when we lose
that we cry Human Rights is when we lose it but it’s not the only time that it
it but it’s not the only time that it
it but it’s not the only time that it becomes relevant it’s very easy to
becomes relevant it’s very easy to
becomes relevant it’s very easy to forget about human rights when you are
forget about human rights when you are
forget about human rights when you are comfortable but just imagine imagine if
comfortable but just imagine imagine if
comfortable but just imagine imagine if you have to line up for two hours just
you have to line up for two hours just
you have to line up for two hours just to get a bucket of water or imagine if
to get a bucket of water or imagine if
to get a bucket of water or imagine if you’re not able to defend yourself when
you’re not able to defend yourself when
you’re not able to defend yourself when someone accuses you of a crime or
someone accuses you of a crime or
someone accuses you of a crime or imagine if you want to attend school but
imagine if you want to attend school but
imagine if you want to attend school but you can’t it’s very easy to say why do
you can’t it’s very easy to say why do
you can’t it’s very easy to say why do you read that we don’t need it if we can
you read that we don’t need it if we can
you read that we don’t need it if we can come home to a house that we are
come home to a house that we are
come home to a house that we are comfortable in if we can just turn on
comfortable in if we can just turn on
comfortable in if we can just turn on the tap and we get water if we haven’t
the tap and we get water if we haven’t
the tap and we get water if we haven’t experienced losing our jobs because we
experienced losing our jobs because we
experienced losing our jobs because we got pregnant or if we have been
got pregnant or if we have been
got pregnant or if we have been prohibited from posting what we wanted
prohibited from posting what we wanted
prohibited from posting what we wanted on Facebook or on Twitter it’s very easy
on Facebook or on Twitter it’s very easy
on Facebook or on Twitter it’s very easy to forget and say that
to forget and say that
to forget and say that don’t need it if we have it in the first
don’t need it if we have it in the first
don’t need it if we have it in the first place unlike other people and just
place unlike other people and just
place unlike other people and just because you or me or the person sitting
because you or me or the person sitting
because you or me or the person sitting next to you has access to most of their
next to you has access to most of their
next to you has access to most of their human rights it doesn’t mean that we can
human rights it doesn’t mean that we can
human rights it doesn’t mean that we can say that we don’t need it
say that we don’t need it
say that we don’t need it human rights affects all of us every
human rights affects all of us every
human rights affects all of us every single one of us and if we truly want to
single one of us and if we truly want to
single one of us and if we truly want to work towards a society or a community
work towards a society or a community
work towards a society or a community that is equal and recognizes all of
that is equal and recognizes all of
that is equal and recognizes all of these rights
these rights
these rights we need empathy we need to be aware and
we need empathy we need to be aware and
we need empathy we need to be aware and open to the struggles that other people
open to the struggles that other people
open to the struggles that other people experience when I was a law student I
experience when I was a law student I
experience when I was a law student I was very fortunate to have been accepted
was very fortunate to have been accepted
was very fortunate to have been accepted to the internship program of the attend
to the internship program of the attend
to the internship program of the attend a Human Rights Center in that internship
a Human Rights Center in that internship
a Human Rights Center in that internship program we would have an immersion and
program we would have an immersion and
program we would have an immersion and we would be sent up the mountain or
we would be sent up the mountain or
we would be sent up the mountain or right next to the beach to live with a
right next to the beach to live with a
right next to the beach to live with a community and we would be partners there
community and we would be partners there
community and we would be partners there were just two of us and we would only
were just two of us and we would only
were just two of us and we would only have the things that we have in our
have the things that we have in our
have the things that we have in our backpacks we only have our clothes we
backpacks we only have our clothes we
backpacks we only have our clothes we only have two sets of clothing they even
only have two sets of clothing they even
only have two sets of clothing they even counted the number of shampoo that we
counted the number of shampoo that we
counted the number of shampoo that we would use for that entire week so in my
would use for that entire week so in my
would use for that entire week so in my case I live with a dew maggot in Kazan
case I live with a dew maggot in Kazan
case I live with a dew maggot in Kazan and the Hmong Yan in Mindoro yes I did
and the Hmong Yan in Mindoro yes I did
and the Hmong Yan in Mindoro yes I did it twice because I was a bit
it twice because I was a bit
it twice because I was a bit enthusiastic so I have a picture here so
enthusiastic so I have a picture here so
enthusiastic so I have a picture here so this is this is me I don’t look like
this is this is me I don’t look like
this is this is me I don’t look like that right now but this is me so with it
that right now but this is me so with it
that right now but this is me so with it this isn’t a picture of me in my actual
this isn’t a picture of me in my actual
this isn’t a picture of me in my actual immersion we weren’t allowed to bring
immersion we weren’t allowed to bring
immersion we weren’t allowed to bring electronics or we weren’t allowed to
electronics or we weren’t allowed to
electronics or we weren’t allowed to bring any phones or cameras so this was
bring any phones or cameras so this was
bring any phones or cameras so this was a this was a immersion that I actually
a this was a immersion that I actually
a this was a immersion that I actually facilitated but it gives you an idea of
facilitated but it gives you an idea of
facilitated but it gives you an idea of the environment that we were working in
the environment that we were working in
the environment that we were working in and the next picture is me and my friend
and the next picture is me and my friend
and the next picture is me and my friend we are actually taking a nice relaxing
we are actually taking a nice relaxing
we are actually taking a nice relaxing time in the mountain river so we can
time in the mountain river so we can
time in the mountain river so we can take the picture up so this so when we
take the picture up so this so when we
take the picture up so this so when we actually went up to the when we went to
actually went up to the when we went to
actually went up to the when we went to the mountains we would climb up and we
the mountains we would climb up and we
the mountains we would climb up and we would reach the communities and we would
would reach the communities and we would
would reach the communities and we would cross so many terrains we would cross
cross so many terrains we would cross
cross so many terrains we would cross rivers we would cross we would go under
rivers we would cross we would go under
rivers we would cross we would go under we would walk underneath the Sun and
we would walk underneath the Sun and
we would walk underneath the Sun and there was just a farm beside us and
there was just a farm beside us and
there was just a farm beside us and sometimes we walk into marshland I
sometimes we walk into marshland I
sometimes we walk into marshland I remember when I stepped into
remember when I stepped into
remember when I stepped into the marshland the mud went up to my
the marshland the mud went up to my
the marshland the mud went up to my thigh and then there was a car about
thigh and then there was a car about
thigh and then there was a car about next to me so I kind of knew that it
next to me so I kind of knew that it
next to me so I kind of knew that it wasn’t mud at all like there was
wasn’t mud at all like there was
wasn’t mud at all like there was something else inside them but you
something else inside them but you
something else inside them but you continue on you plow through you still
continue on you plow through you still
continue on you plow through you still walk because you want to get to that
walk because you want to get to that
walk because you want to get to that community right and when we finally got
community right and when we finally got
community right and when we finally got to the community I was so exhausted that
to the community I was so exhausted that
to the community I was so exhausted that when I saw that we were up the mountain
when I saw that we were up the mountain
when I saw that we were up the mountain and there was just the grass with tiny
and there was just the grass with tiny
and there was just the grass with tiny yellow flowers I actually burst into
yellow flowers I actually burst into
yellow flowers I actually burst into song the hills are alive with the sound
song the hills are alive with the sound
song the hills are alive with the sound of music so I was so tired but the hills
of music so I was so tired but the hills
of music so I was so tired but the hills were alive our communities even though
were alive our communities even though
were alive our communities even though they were shy at first were curious and
they were shy at first were curious and
they were shy at first were curious and very welcoming and if you name any kind
very welcoming and if you name any kind
very welcoming and if you name any kind of stereotype and you know rural living
of stereotype and you know rural living
of stereotype and you know rural living it’s there you have the mountain air the
it’s there you have the mountain air the
it’s there you have the mountain air the cleanest air you could possibly breathe
cleanest air you could possibly breathe
cleanest air you could possibly breathe because you’re so high up you have
because you’re so high up you have
because you’re so high up you have bathing in the river just like this one
bathing in the river just like this one
bathing in the river just like this one you have long relaxing hours of almost
you have long relaxing hours of almost
you have long relaxing hours of almost doing nothing and of course there are
doing nothing and of course there are
doing nothing and of course there are the chickens who wake you up at the
the chickens who wake you up at the
the chickens who wake you up at the morning at 40 and because they’re just
morning at 40 and because they’re just
morning at 40 and because they’re just right underneath the bed that you were
right underneath the bed that you were
right underneath the bed that you were sleeping in and one time it was so cold
sleeping in and one time it was so cold
sleeping in and one time it was so cold up in the mountain that the village cat
up in the mountain that the village cat
up in the mountain that the village cat actually went up to me and kind when I
actually went up to me and kind when I
actually went up to me and kind when I woke up in the morning it was there
woke up in the morning it was there
woke up in the morning it was there right here in my chest so that was cute
right here in my chest so that was cute
right here in my chest so that was cute but this was the kind of picture that we
but this was the kind of picture that we
but this was the kind of picture that we had it was very idyllic but underneath
had it was very idyllic but underneath
had it was very idyllic but underneath this picture that we see underneath the
this picture that we see underneath the
this picture that we see underneath the surface human rights issues ran clear
surface human rights issues ran clear
surface human rights issues ran clear and strong understandably food was an
and strong understandably food was an
and strong understandably food was an issue for the communities that we stayed
issue for the communities that we stayed
issue for the communities that we stayed in when I live with Adam a got the host
in when I live with Adam a got the host
in when I live with Adam a got the host the father of our host family would make
the father of our host family would make
the father of our host family would make expeditions of the mountain to gather
expeditions of the mountain to gather
expeditions of the mountain to gather food for his family and there were days
food for his family and there were days
food for his family and there were days that they didn’t have any food so my
that they didn’t have any food so my
that they didn’t have any food so my partner and I didn’t eat as well when I
partner and I didn’t eat as well when I
partner and I didn’t eat as well when I was interim began in Mindoro the
was interim began in Mindoro the
was interim began in Mindoro the children would go down the mountain for
children would go down the mountain for
children would go down the mountain for two to three hours jumping on the rocks
two to three hours jumping on the rocks
two to three hours jumping on the rocks going down the path that was laid for
going down the path that was laid for
going down the path that was laid for them just to go to school and when it
them just to go to school and when it
them just to go to school and when it rained they would run around with their
rained they would run around with their
rained they would run around with their makeshift raincoats made of plastic bags
makeshift raincoats made of plastic bags
makeshift raincoats made of plastic bags and
and
and land was such an important issue for
land was such an important issue for
land was such an important issue for them when I was in third on being at the
them when I was in third on being at the
them when I was in third on being at the moment that our community found out that
moment that our community found out that
moment that our community found out that we were law students not even lawyers
we were law students not even lawyers
we were law students not even lawyers they gathered around our house and asked
they gathered around our house and asked
they gathered around our house and asked us all sorts of questions and they were
us all sorts of questions and they were
us all sorts of questions and they were asking us about their land because what
asking us about their land because what
asking us about their land because what happened in Turin being an is that while
happened in Turin being an is that while
happened in Turin being an is that while they lived in their community since time
they lived in their community since time
they lived in their community since time immemorial since their grandparents
immemorial since their grandparents
immemorial since their grandparents their fathers their mothers were lived
their fathers their mothers were lived
their fathers their mothers were lived there all their entire lives there were
there all their entire lives there were
there all their entire lives there were some Agha logs those were that was a
some Agha logs those were that was a
some Agha logs those were that was a term they use for non-indigenous peoples
term they use for non-indigenous peoples
term they use for non-indigenous peoples who are claiming the land is theirs
who are claiming the land is theirs
who are claiming the land is theirs using titles or community tax
using titles or community tax
using titles or community tax certificates but for these indigenous
certificates but for these indigenous
certificates but for these indigenous peoples these are just mere pieces of
peoples these are just mere pieces of
peoples these are just mere pieces of paper it doesn’t compare to the
paper it doesn’t compare to the
paper it doesn’t compare to the spiritual connection that they have to
spiritual connection that they have to
spiritual connection that they have to the land that has nurtured their
the land that has nurtured their
the land that has nurtured their community ever since the beginning of
community ever since the beginning of
community ever since the beginning of time maybe ever since a very very start
time maybe ever since a very very start
time maybe ever since a very very start and it was a lot of pressure for us when
and it was a lot of pressure for us when
and it was a lot of pressure for us when we tried to answer them with everything
we tried to answer them with everything
we tried to answer them with everything that we knew about the indigenous
that we knew about the indigenous
that we knew about the indigenous peoples rights app because this wasn’t
peoples rights app because this wasn’t
peoples rights app because this wasn’t any kind of rested in law school where
any kind of rested in law school where
any kind of rested in law school where we only had to think about grades our
we only had to think about grades our
we only had to think about grades our answers affected that will affect the
answers affected that will affect the
answers affected that will affect the community the future of the community
community the future of the community
community the future of the community and will affect actual lives the stakes
and will affect actual lives the stakes
and will affect actual lives the stakes were really high and it wasn’t that kind
were really high and it wasn’t that kind
were really high and it wasn’t that kind of world I took myself out of my comfort
of world I took myself out of my comfort
of world I took myself out of my comfort zone and it wasn’t that kind of world
zone and it wasn’t that kind of world
zone and it wasn’t that kind of world that I realized that human rights was
that I realized that human rights was
that I realized that human rights was both near and so far it’s near because
both near and so far it’s near because
both near and so far it’s near because these communities knew about their
these communities knew about their
these communities knew about their rights they knew what they were they
rights they knew what they were they
rights they knew what they were they would have to fight for and they valued
would have to fight for and they valued
would have to fight for and they valued them and they actively sought ways to
them and they actively sought ways to
them and they actively sought ways to find their human rights to fulfill it
find their human rights to fulfill it
find their human rights to fulfill it but it’s painfully far because they
but it’s painfully far because they
but it’s painfully far because they couldn’t access it as easily as others
couldn’t access it as easily as others
couldn’t access it as easily as others maybe because of who they were or where
maybe because of who they were or where
maybe because of who they were or where they lived or their class or gender two
they lived or their class or gender two
they lived or their class or gender two weeks was not enough for me to
weeks was not enough for me to
weeks was not enough for me to completely grasp the complexity of the
completely grasp the complexity of the
completely grasp the complexity of the lives that I was of the community that I
lives that I was of the community that I
lives that I was of the community that I was able to live with and I was very
was able to live with and I was very
was able to live with and I was very fortunate to experience but those two
fortunate to experience but those two
fortunate to experience but those two weeks were enough to make me realize
weeks were enough to make me realize
weeks were enough to make me realize that this was the kind of work that it
that this was the kind of work that it
that this was the kind of work that it wanted to do it’s been said that human
wanted to do it’s been said that human
wanted to do it’s been said that human rights is both inspirational and
rights is both inspirational and
rights is both inspirational and practical it’s practical because it
practical it’s practical because it
practical it’s practical because it envisions a world where everyone can
envisions a world where everyone can
envisions a world where everyone can live according to what they want without
live according to what they want without
live according to what they want without hurting anybody but it’s also practical
hurting anybody but it’s also practical
hurting anybody but it’s also practical because it sets the standards and
because it sets the standards and
because it sets the standards and framework with which we can achieve our
framework with which we can achieve our
framework with which we can achieve our human rights and since human rights is
human rights and since human rights is
human rights and since human rights is universal we all have it we can claim it
universal we all have it we can claim it
universal we all have it we can claim it and we are able to claim it from the
and we are able to claim it from the
and we are able to claim it from the primary duty holders duty bearers and
primary duty holders duty bearers and
primary duty holders duty bearers and that would be the state but
that would be the state but
that would be the state but unfortunately systemic inequalities
unfortunately systemic inequalities
unfortunately systemic inequalities prevent a lot of communities from
prevent a lot of communities from
prevent a lot of communities from achieving their human rights but I think
achieving their human rights but I think
achieving their human rights but I think that collective action is one way for us
that collective action is one way for us
that collective action is one way for us to resolve this
to resolve this
to resolve this just imagine lending your voice to the
just imagine lending your voice to the
just imagine lending your voice to the indigenous peoples or lending your voice
indigenous peoples or lending your voice
indigenous peoples or lending your voice to women who have been silenced because
to women who have been silenced because
to women who have been silenced because of violence or helping out someone who
of violence or helping out someone who
of violence or helping out someone who can’t defend himself because due process
can’t defend himself because due process
can’t defend himself because due process has been taken away or joining your
has been taken away or joining your
has been taken away or joining your voices with a cries of children who just
voices with a cries of children who just
voices with a cries of children who just want to have food just imagine how much
want to have food just imagine how much
want to have food just imagine how much stronger their voices will be and
stronger their voices will be and
stronger their voices will be and imagine how much higher we can lift them
imagine how much higher we can lift them
imagine how much higher we can lift them up and in doing so lift ourselves up
up and in doing so lift ourselves up
up and in doing so lift ourselves up lift our society and lift our
lift our society and lift our
lift our society and lift our communities up our world is a jumble of
communities up our world is a jumble of
communities up our world is a jumble of realities but if we want a just an equal
realities but if we want a just an equal
realities but if we want a just an equal world we have to be aware of the
world we have to be aware of the
world we have to be aware of the experiences of people or individuals
experiences of people or individuals
experiences of people or individuals that we might not have personally
that we might not have personally
that we might not have personally encountered if we let our view of the
encountered if we let our view of the
encountered if we let our view of the world be dictated merely by our personal
world be dictated merely by our personal
world be dictated merely by our personal experience that the world is just an
experience that the world is just an
experience that the world is just an equal because we perceive it to be then
equal because we perceive it to be then
equal because we perceive it to be then we risk ignoring the experiences of
we risk ignoring the experiences of
we risk ignoring the experiences of other people we contribute to their
other people we contribute to their
other people we contribute to their exclusion and we leave them behind some
exclusion and we leave them behind some
exclusion and we leave them behind some human rights might not affect theirs but
human rights might not affect theirs but
human rights might not affect theirs but we not affect us personally but these
we not affect us personally but these
we not affect us personally but these same issues for others can be a matter
same issues for others can be a matter
same issues for others can be a matter of
of
of life and death it is important for us to
life and death it is important for us to
life and death it is important for us to learn their stories to know their
learn their stories to know their
learn their stories to know their context and to be open-minded it is
context and to be open-minded it is
context and to be open-minded it is important for us to listen it is
important for us to listen it is
important for us to listen it is important for us to ask questions
important for us to ask questions
important for us to ask questions because if we believe that this is the
because if we believe that this is the
because if we believe that this is the kind of world that we want to want to
kind of world that we want to want to
kind of world that we want to want to have it has to be exclusive if we should
have it has to be exclusive if we should
have it has to be exclusive if we should not let our personal realities dictate
not let our personal realities dictate
not let our personal realities dictate our views of the world it might not
our views of the world it might not
our views of the world it might not happen with a snap of a finger but we
happen with a snap of a finger but we
happen with a snap of a finger but we can work towards opening our minds and
can work towards opening our minds and
can work towards opening our minds and our hearts to truly pave the way to a
our hearts to truly pave the way to a
our hearts to truly pave the way to a peaceful future we have to keep asking
peaceful future we have to keep asking
peaceful future we have to keep asking questions and listening to these answers
questions and listening to these answers
questions and listening to these answers so that we are never ever in danger of
so that we are never ever in danger of
so that we are never ever in danger of asking the question why do we need it
asking the question why do we need it
asking the question why do we need it thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
”
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