Allad-iw wins Gawad Gabay Karapatan 2023 award
Baguio City Councilor Arthur L. Allad-iw was conferred the Gawad Gabay Karapatan award under the 2023 Gawad Karapatang Pantao for exceptionally contributing to the furtherance of human rights policies.
The awarding was held on Dec. 10, 2023 in Quezon City coinciding with the culmination ceremony of the 2023 National Human Rights Consciousness Week.
In his acceptance speech, Allad-iw said he was not expecting the award for his human rights advocacy but he was grateful for his fellow councilors in the city government for supporting his legislation pertaining to human rights.
One of his legislations is Resolution No. 763 passed on Dec. 4, 2023 through the Committee on Laws, Human Rights and Justice which declared the City of Baguio as an inclusive human rights city.
He said it broadened Resolution No. 408 series of 2017 which declared December 10 every year as International Human Rights Day in Baguio City and supporting activities related thereto.
“As an advocate, I aspire for a situation where we stand as human beings by enjoying these rights and freedoms, whether as individuals, sectors or as a people. And I believe this is the reason why a state is mandated to protect these rights, such as are provided in our constitution, and even in international instruments, where our government is a signatory and member of the United Nations,” he said.
Even in times of war, Allad-iw said rights should be respected, particularly the rights of non-combatants such as children, civilians, including journalists, and neutral institutions, including their personnel, like the hospitals, school, churches, among others.
“I am very supportive of the strict observance of the international humanitarian law in this case, like allowing entry of basic needs and services for the civilians and neutral institutions in war torn areas,” he added.
He said he is very supportive as well on the call for a ceasefire to the conflicting parties to assess damage and reconstruction for the best interest of civilians. – JMPS
