House Committee on Human Rights Chair and Manila 6th District Representative Benny Abante Jr. urged government leaders, advocates, and institutions to move “beyond awareness and into action” as the country marked the culmination of Human Rights Consciousness Week in the House of Representatives.
In a speech, Abante referenced the Commission on Human Rights’ Ablaze Award, which he received recently.
The award is conferred by the CHR “for kindling the light of human dignity, justice, and hope among persons deprived of liberty, and for their invaluable contribution to the cause of human rights.”
The veteran legislator said he was humbled by the recognition and stressed that it belongs to everyone working in the House Human Rights Committee.
The seasoned lawmaker said “I accept it with deep humility, knowing that this recognition is not for me alone, but for every member and staff of our Committee who labored quietly, faithfully, and tirelessly.”
He pointed out, however, that awards and ceremonies are not the end goal of human rights work.
“To be conscious is good. But to act—to defend the vulnerable, to correct injustice, to strengthen the law—that is what truly matters.”
“Human rights consciousness, or being enlightened and aware, is only the first step. Napakahalaga po nito—dahil hindi natin mapoprotektahan ang hindi natin nauunawaan. But awareness without action is incomplete. To be conscious is good. But to act—to defend the vulnerable, to correct injustice, to strengthen the law—that is what truly matters,” Abante stressed.
He anchored the moral imperative of human rights on Scripture, quoting Proverbs 31:9 from the King James Version: “Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.”
“This passage is one of many in the Good Book that have guided my public service. It reminds us that our calling is not neutral. It is not passive. It is active—plead the cause, judge righteously, open thy mouth for those who cannot speak for themselves,” Abante explained.
He also reaffirmed the Human Rights Committee’s commitment to push for measures strengthening accountability, protecting vulnerable sectors, preventing abuse, and modernizing the country’s legal and institutional human rights framework.
“As long as there are those who fear the very institutions meant to protect them, our mission continues.”
Abante noted that despite progress, the work remains far from finished, for “as long as there are Filipinos whose rights are violated, our work is not finished… as long as there are those who fear the very institutions meant to protect them, our mission continues.”
“My prayer is that every one of us here will leave this room not only more aware, but more ready to act—with courage, with compassion, and with conviction. For human rights are not abstract. They are not theoretical. They are lived every day by ordinary people who simply want fairness, justice, and dignity, he stressed.
“And they depend on leaders and institutions willing to defend them, even when it is not convenient—especially when it is not popular,” Abante concluded.
