In observance of International Human Rights Day, UP Padayon Public Service, in partnership with the UP Bangsamoro Studies Group (UP BSG), hosted a webinar on the plight of stateless persons in Sabah. The event, titled “Silang Walang mga Pangalan: Narratives of the Stateless Persons from the Sulu Archipelago,” was held via Zoom on Dec. 10.
Prof. Nelson “Ka Neldy” Dino of the Mindanao State University Tawi-Tawi College of Technology and Oceanography served as the resource speaker. Dino delved into the historical circumstances that rendered the community stateless and discussed the consequences of lacking state recognition. Underscoring the importance of raising awareness, Dino said, “Ituloy ang inisyatibo ng pagsasalaysay ng kasaysayan at kultura.”
Dishan Pilar, junior project associate of Padayon, emphasized UP’s role as a public service university. “UP must confront issues that are often sidelined. It must maximize its platform to work toward the full realization of human rights, including those deprived of citizenship and nationality,” Pilar said.
Reactors included Shariful Hashim Mansul, a founding member of the UP BSG, and Paramisuli Aming, a social worker and a student of the UP College of Law. Mansul spoke of the need to discuss the statelessness in the Southern Philippines, calling for their recognition. “Mahalaga ito kasi we’re talking about the real lives of people. We’re not talking about concepts and ideas attached to people. We’re talking about and we’re beginning with the people,” Mansul said.
Meanwhile, Aming highlighted the need to recognize and safeguard the inherent human rights of the stateless.
Apart from raising awareness, the webinar forum called for greater accountability from local and national authorities to advance the welfare of the stateless in Sabah. Participants were also encouraged to take concrete actions, from supporting local advocacy groups to pushing for policy reforms at both the regional and national levels.
“We’re trying to look at authorities and say, ‘You have to put your attention to this.’ Ang dami nilang problems na largely invisible sa atin ngayon, at kailangan nating bigyan ng boses ‘yon,” added Mansul.
The event concluded with an open forum, where the speaker and reactors answered participants’ questions.
Watch the replay of the webinar forum on UP Padayon’s YouTube channel.
