Up Close at the WHRCF

An Interview with Philippine Delegate Celito J. Tuazon

By Julienne Mei Magbanua

The 2024 World Human Rights Cities Forum was held at the Kim Daejung Convention Center on October 10 and 11. Julienne Mei Magbanua was given the privilege of conducting an interview with Atty. Celito J. Tuazon, MPA of the Philippine delegation. Atty. Tuazon is currently the secretary of the Sangguniang Panlungsod, the City Council of Balanga. This interview delves into the evolution of democracy in the Philippines.

Magbanua: The Philippines and South Korea have a shared history of resistance. How has this legacy progressed over the years?

Atty. Tuazon: After the February 1986 People Power Revolution, the Philippines adopted a new constitution in 1987, restoring democratic governance and institutionalizing key principles such as free elections, press freedom, the separation of powers, and checks and balances among the executive, legislative, and judiciary branches. These protections, intended to guard against governmental overreach, remain in place today, with the 1987 Constitution still unamended.

Notably, throughout these years, civil society organizations, human rights groups, and many Filipinos have continued to uphold the values of the 1986 revolution by opposing corruption, extrajudicial killings, and political repression, reflecting the ongoing struggle to maintain democratic ideals amidst changing political landscapes.

Magbanua: What is the current status of Philippine democracy?

Atty. Tuazon: While the Philippines maintains its democratic institutions, as outlined in the 1987 Constitution born from the People Power Revolution, challenges related to governance, political polarization, human rights, and the rule of law have raised concerns about the quality and sustainability of its democracy.

Despite setbacks, civil society in the Philippines, human rights organizations, social movements, and grassroots groups actively work to hold the government accountable on issues such as governance, environmental protection, and social justice.

Magbanua: As previously mentioned, there have been different human rights challenges in the Philippines. How can human rights be protected and championed at the local level?

Atty. Tuazon: To effectively protect and champion human rights at the local level, local government units (LGUs) should establish dedicated human rights offices or committees. These bodies are crucial for monitoring human rights violations, serving as accessible reporting channels and focal points for addressing abuses within the community.

In addition, LGUs should take proactive steps by enacting ordinances and resolutions that safeguard vulnerable groups to ensure that human rights standards are upheld across all sectors of society. LGUs can also strengthen their human rights efforts by collaborating with legal aid organizations. Moreover, LGUs can work with civil society organizations (CSOs) to raise awareness of human rights, provide legal assistance, and mobilize communities to advocate for these rights at the local level.

Magbanua: How can the local governments play a more proactive role in promoting human rights at the community level?

Atty. Tuazon: Local government units (LGUs) can take a more proactive role in promoting human rights at the community level by establishing Local Human Rights Action Centers (LHRACs) or dedicated human rights offices. By coordinating with national human rights institutions like the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), these offices can ensure swift responses to human rights violations and facilitate the monitoring of human rights conditions within the LGU’s jurisdiction.

Magbanua: In what ways can the Philippines and South Korea partner with each other to ensure that democracy is maintained?

Atty. Tuazon: Some of the ways in which the Philippines and South Korea can partner to strengthen democracy and promote human rights include the following:

a. Strengthening democratic institutions and the rule of law by sharing best practices and providing mutual support in governance reform.

b. Engaging in civil society forums that bring together human rights defenders to discuss strategies for defending democratic values.

c. Initiating exchange programs for media professionals to learn from each other’s experiences in safeguarding press freedom and countering misinformation.

d. Working together on youth programs promoting civic responsibility, democratic engagement, and human rights awareness.

e. Working together to support other countries in the region that are facing threats to democracy, providing diplomatic and technical assistance to those nations that are at risk of democratic erosion.

Magbanua: What is your opinion regarding the efforts of the Metropolitan City of Gwangju in promoting human rights and democracy?

Atty. Tuazon: The City of Gwangju has shown a profound commitment to promoting human rights and democracy, actively working toward a fairer, more inclusive future. By collaborating with cities beyond Korea, such as the City of Balanga, Gwangju extends its dedication to these universal values on a global scale. It’s truly inspiring to see Gwangju championing human rights and setting an example of international solidarity and leadership.

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We would like to thank Atty. Celito J. Tuazon, MPA, for his willingness to participate in this interview. Indeed, there are still threats to democracy not just in the Philippines but everywhere else in the world. However, there are measures that are being taken at local levels to help combat these threats to democracy and promote human rights. These efforts, though they may be small in scale, are not powerless in creating an impact on society and on the world.

Human Rights Sessions at the Forum

Julienne Magbanua was also able to attend numerous sessions at this year’s WHRCF. Here is her report.  — Ed.

The World Human Rights Cities Forum (WHRCF) marked its 14th year at the Kim Daejung Convention Center on October 10 and 11 with the theme “Civic Space and Human Rights Cities.” It is an annual event that started in 2011 with the objective of amplifying the spirit of justice in the city of Gwangju where the historic May 18, 1980 uprising took place. The forum was opened with remarks from Gwangju Metropolitan City Mayor Kang Gi-jung and an address by Sungkonghoe University Professor Emeritus Kim Dong-choon. Civil society, government officials, student supporters, and delegates from different parts of the world gathered to participate in this event in an effort to promote freedom and human rights in civic spaces. Through this forum, various discussions took place in order for different ideas to be shared, and some perhaps introduced, to those who were present.

The Plenary Sessions

There were three primary speakers offering plenary sessions: Baik Tae-ung, Lee Jin-sun, and Wiebke Winter. Professor Baik Tae-ung of the William S. Richardson School of Law at the University of Hawaii focused on some specific topics. These included the challenges against human rights and the shrinkage of civic space. Civil society is also found in a difficult position amidst the rise of nationalism brought about by China and the United States’ competition. In his presentation, Baik emphasized the role of each individual in ensuring that democracy is preserved in society. He added that although elections are significant in determining who acquires power, essentially, it is the people who have the ability to make democracy more developed by being more proactive.

Lee Jin-sun, chairperson of Foundation WAGL, shared the concept of “fandom politics,” more specifically in the online realm. Political fandom is defined as a group of fans who operate on a highly emotional basis in relation to the political figure they support. This kind of mentality is seen to contribute to the dysfunction of democracy as it fuels hostility and extremism. This prevents individuals from having safe discussions despite opposing opinions. Lee suggested that a “republican democracy” would allow healthy engagements amidst political differences with the goal of pursuing the common good.

Wiebke Winter, project manager of the Human Rights Office of the City of Nuremberg, discussed the developments in the city with regard to human rights and peace. Germany has a history of severe human rights violations during the Nazi period. Nuremberg is pointed to have played a significant role in Nazi history through the party rallies and the “Nuremberg Trials.” Winter brought up how the city of Nuremberg has progressed into a space that supports civil society engagements. These efforts still face resistance from some extremist movements. The City of Nuremberg emphasized the importance of treating all parties equally and hearing from each side to manage conflicts more effectively.

Social Movements and Inclusive Participation in Cities

The session was held online through Zoom on Friday, October 11. State officials from different countries presented the efforts of their localities in encouraging civic participation in their localities. The session started with questions. The participants shared their answers, shown on the projector screen to see the leading perspectives on certain issues that were being talked about.

Secretary general of ActionAid Denmark, Tim Whyte, raised some issues that are currently present in society, specifically with regard to social movements. These included repression that could come in the form of labeling civil society as enemies of the state as a way to delegitimize their participation. He showed an illustration of the cycle of a social movement to better understand and build civic resilience. A social movement typically starts with an enduring crisis that causes a growing anger. This would lead to an uprising after reaching a trigger point where a heroic hope would appear. The cycle would come at a peak and then contract back again, and there would be disillusionment. After some learning and reflection, the movement evolves and reaches a new normal. Whyte suggested that first, at the early stage of the cycle, cities should encourage capacity-building. Before the movement falls back after reaching the peak, civil society should constructively engage with authorities to repulse repression. Lastly, as society navigates through the product of the movement towards the new normal, Whyte highlighted that in this period, collaboration between different actors is important for a participatory democracy.

Aside from the keynote speaker, local government officials from Eswatini, Portugal, Spain, and India also presented on the performance of their specific localities with respect to inclusive participation between the local government and their people. Mayor Bongile Mbingo of Ezulwini shared the initiatives of their local government for women. Marta Costa, the head of the Youth Division of the city of Valongo, discussed the participatory mechanisms of their youth. She highlighted that participation is not simply a moment but a phenomenon. Tikender Panwar, Kerala Urban Policy Commission member, reiterated the role of local government in ensuring that the people can safely and effectively participate by providing a safe environment for civic participation and by protecting its people.

To summarize the session, the session emphasized the importance of all people, regardless of background, being able to purposefully participate in decision-making. Local governments, being closest to the people, play a significant role in making this possible. Through making the grievances of the people heard and providing solutions to existing problems, local governments establish trust.

As the World Human Rights Cities Forum concluded its 14th year, some were left a bit disappointed while others gained new insights throughout the two-day forum. Perhaps this best illustrates the essence of democracy – for everyone to have a voice on matters such as these without worry as to whether it is favorable to the majority or not. Events like the World Human Rights Cities Forum provide an avenue for people of different minds to challenge each other’s way of thinking and allow new ideas to flourish for the betterment of society.

WHRCF photographs by Julienne Mei Magbanua.