DILIMAN, Quezon City — In commemoration of International Human Rights Day, the UP Padayon Public Service and the UP Bangsamoro Studies Group hosted a special webinar forum on the plight of stateless persons in Sabah. The event titled, Silang Mga Walang Pangalan: Narratives of Stateless Persons from the Sulu Archipelago, was held via Zoom on December 10.
The event aims to initiate a conversation and provide a platform to raise awareness of the situation of stateless persons in Sabah and the socio-historical and political context that catalyzed their mass exodus from the Sulu Archipelago. It also intends to explore the existing policies, programs, and initiatives that advance their welfare.
“Mahalaga ito kasi, we’re talking about the real lives of people. We’re not talking about concepts, ideas attached to people. We’re talking about, and we’re beginning with people,” explained Shariful Hashim Mansul, founding member of UP Bangsamoro Studies Group.
Dishan Pilar, Junior Project Associate of UP Padayon Public Service Office, highlighted the University of the Philippines’ duty as a public service university: “[UP] must confront the issues that are often sidelined and maximize the university’s platform to work towards the full realization of human rights, including those deprived of citizenship and nationality.”
In addition to raising awareness, the webinar forum called for greater accountability from the local and national authorities to advance the welfare of the stateless in Sabah. “We’re trying to look at authorities and say, ‘You have to put your attention to this.’ Kasi ang dami nilang problems na largely invisible sa atin ngayon. At kailangan nating bigyan ng boses ‘yun,” added Mansul.
In her closing remarks, UP Padayon Officer-in-Charge Jessica Claridad encouraged the participants to take concrete actions, from supporting local advocacy groups to pushing for policy reforms at both the state and regional levels, “Sana’y patuloy kayong maging inspirasyon sa pagbuo ng mas makatao at makatarungang mundo. Maraming salamat, at sana’y magpatuloy ang inyong misyon sa pagbibigay boses sa mga taong nangangailangan. Kasama n’yo po kami rito.”
The webinar was open to the public via Zoom and live-streamed on the official Facebook and YouTube accounts of Padayon Public Service Office. It included a Q&A session, allowing attendees to interact with the speaker and engage with the issues.
