SPIRITUAL AND FAITH TRADITIONS AS RESOURCES FOR PEACEPrepared By: Richard Allen S Santos Gerrick C Quillopo Angelo C Apolinario

The world major spiritual and faith traditions inspire and motivate people to embrace

peace as a mission.

The conflicts were actually rooted not in matters of their faith, or even of religion but in conflicting claims to social and political (and economic) goals . (Machado, 1993)

SOME OF THE COMMON PEACE TEACHINGS THAT THE VARIOUS SPIRITUAL TRADITIONS SUBSCRIBE TO ARE:

The rejection of violence

Love and compassion for other humans

Love and compassion for other creatures and life forms in nature

Respect for human dignity

Justice or fairness

THE GOLDEN RULE

‘’Do to others what you would want them to do unto you’’ is a maxim that is found in all the major world spiritual traditions – Christian,

Islam Buddhism, Hinduism, and the Indigenous tradition.

PEACE THEME 1: UPHOLDING HUMAN DIGNITY

Upholding human dignity is at the center of the values system that we associate with social peace.

PRINCIPLE OF HUMAN DIGNITY

Human dignity is defined as the fundamental innate worth of a human being, a principle that is now universality accepted but has not taken root in the actual practices of many goverments, communities and other non-state actors

The principle of human dignity is enshrined in the teaching of major faiths.

For instance ,In Christianity this would be rooted in the belief that God created human beings in His image. It is like-wise a commandment of Jesus that we love our neighbor.

THE UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS

The recognition of human rights as a significant international concern came at the close of world war II, with the founding of United Nations and the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UHDR) By UN General Assembly in 1948.

UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS Article 1Right to Equality Article 2Freedom from Discrimination Article 3Right to life, Liberty, Personal Security Article 4Freedom from Slavery Article 5Freedom from Torture and Degrading Treatment

Article 6Right to recognition as a person before the Law Article 7Right to Equality before the Law Article 8Right to remedy by Competent Tribunal Article 9Freedom from Arbitrary Arrest and Exile Article 10Right to Hear Public Hearing

Article 11Right to be Considered Innocent until Proven Guilty Article 12Freedom from interference with Privacy, Family, Home and Correspondence. Article 13Right to Free Movement in and out of the Country Article 14Right to Asylum in other Countries and persecution Article 15Right to a nationality and the freedom to change it

Article 16Right to Marriage and Family Article 17Right to Own a Property Article 18Freedom of Belief and Religion Article 19Freedom of Opinion and Information Article 20Right of Peaceful Assembly and Association

Article 21Right to Participate in Government and in Free Elections Article 22Right to Social Security Article 23Right to Desirable Work and to Join Trade Unions Article 24Right to Rest and Leisure Article 25Right to Adequate Living Standard

Article 26Right to Education Article 27Right to Participate in the Cultural Life of Community Article 28Right to a Social Order that Articulates this Document Article 29Community Duties Essential to Free and Full Development Article 30 Freedom from state or Personal Interference in the

above Rights

THE CONVENTION ON THE ELIMINATION OF ALL FORMS OF DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN (CEDAW)

Is also known as the International Bill of Rights for Women and is the only international treaty that comprehensively addresses women’s right.

The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) it features :

Women’s Right in the political

Civil

Economic

Social

Cultural Spheres

Discrimination against women has been a long standing problem in many parts of the world.

Many women have suffered in dignities and inequalities on the basis of their sex.

As explain by a CEDAW primer published by UNIFEM CEDAW- Southeast Asia Programme, The Convention has the following aims :

It aims to bring out substantive equality of women. This means goverment are tasked to bring in actual results in women’s lives;

It prohibits actions and policies that put women at a disadvantage whatever its intentions;

o It recognizes the influence of culture and tradition on restricting women’s enjoyment of their right, and challenges States Parties to change stereotypes, customs, norms that discriminate against women;

o It discards the distinction between the private and the public spheres by- recognizing violations of women in the private sphere.

Because of the CEDAW, the Philippine government has enacted laws to protect women:

These are RA 7877 “Anti- Sexual Harassment Act”, RA 8353 “Anti-Rape Law”, RA 8505 “Rape Victims Assistance and Protection Act”, RA 9208 “Anti-trafficking in Persons Act”, and RA 9262 “Anti-Violence Against Women and Children Act”.

A “ Magna Carta for Women” has also been enacted

WHAT IS MAGNA CARTA OF WOMEN (REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9710)?

The Magna Carta of Women is comprehensive women’s human rights law that seeks to eliminate discrimination against women by recognizing, protecting, fulfilling and promoting the rights of Filipino women, especially those in marginalized sector.

In recent years, the United Nations Security Council has issued two landmark Resolutions that uphold the rights of women. The first of these is UN Resolution 1325 that was adopted by the Security Council on October 31, 2000 and the second is UN Resolution 1820 adopted by the Security Council on June 19, 2008.

CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD CRC)

was adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1989 and entered into force in September 1990.

It is significant document because it recognizes for the first time the children’s rights as a distinct human rights category should be protected and promoted.

The 54 articles of the CRC described in 4 categories of rights (http://www.cwc.gov.ph)

Survival rights cover a child’s right to life and the needs that are most basic to existence. It

starts from the time of conception. Upon birth, every child should enjoy the basic to

health and nutrition.

Development rights include what children require to reach their fullest potential. It

encompasses freedom of thought, conscience and religion, access to

appropriate information and the right of education, leisure, recreation and

cultural activities.

Protection rights recognizes the vulnerability of children by preserving their identity and nationality as well as providing safeguards

against abuse, neglect, child labor, drug abuse, sexual exploitation, sale and

trafficking, torture and deprivation of liberty and armed conflict.

Participation rights allow children to take an active role in their communities and nations.

RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBLITIES

While we expect our rights to respected, Protected, and promoted, we should also be willing to undertake the corresponding responsibilities.

END