Maria Sol Taule, human rights lawyer at Karapatan, explains the consequences of the coronavirus pandemic for the population of the Philippines. She highlights not only the victims of the pandemic itself, but also the increase in the number of victims of human rights violations as a result of repressive measures.
What are the main effects of the corona pandemic on the population and how have the authorities responded?
Well, the main effect of the pandemic in the Philippines is that there have been a large number of cases of Covid-19. Especially as the government has no clear plan for dealing with the pandemic. There has been no mass testing of the population. On the other hand, the government has passed many laws that further violate people's rights. As for the economic effects, many people have lost their jobs. And those who express their disagreement, their astonishment at the government's policies, have been harassed, threatened or arrested.
How have your organisation and social movements in general reacted to the measures taken by the authorities?
Karapatan and its member organisations issued statements, particularly when civilians or activists were arrested or human rights defenders were harassed or arrested during the pandemic, because of their activities. Karapatan has also mobilised rapid reaction teams to visit police stations where arrests have been reported.
We are supporting them, handling their cases and monitoring the various human rights violations during this pandemic.
Do you see opportunities to develop the fight for the right to health in this context, despite the measures taken by the authorities?
There is always an opportunity to fight for the right to health. In fact, this is the right time to do so, because the government has consistently disregarded the rights of front-line staff who put their lives on the line for the sick, deprived of the social services they are owed by the government. Now that the number of cases of Covid-19 is rising, it's high time to demand that the government come up with concrete plans for managing this pandemic and stop prioritising measures that further violate people's rights.
