IMPROMPTU SPEECHES

Human Rights
Human rights are the basic rights and freedoms to which everyone is entitled. Human rights are
important because they respect the inherent dignity in human life. A strong human rights system
contributes to the health of our communities, our families and our workplaces by supporting a
society that values belonging and security for all. Human rights are extremely important
because they provide fairness and equality in our society. Without human rights, society would
go back to ancient times in terms of morality. To demonstrate just how important human rights
are, I’ll describe a world where human rights do not exist. Genocide and slavery would be
prevalent and war would ensue not only in our country but also in the entire world. The United
Nations was created for this very reason and human rights started to flourish after WW2. The
Universal Declaration of Human Rights, is an international document that states basic rights and
fundamental freedoms to which all human beings are entitled. It includes the right to life,
freedom from discrimination and the right for everyone to be treated equally by the law.
Governments and societies that uphold human rights well are likely to have happier, safer, and
more prosperous populations.

Women’s Rights
Women’s empowerment means equality. It’s about giving women the equal freedom to make
their own choices, and the opportunity for choice – without judgment. As it stands women lack
the opportunities they need to make the choices that suit them; like applying for promotions
when training pathways do not exist to make it possible. Women’s rights is about women being
able to have a voice without disastrous consequences. About young girls being able to get an
education and become leaders within our global community. Giving women the opportunity and
freedom for choice means they are empowered to sit in the driver’s seat of their life and
navigate it anyway they wish. It means women can choose to fully participate in the workforce,
be promoted as equals to their male counterparts, and have the opportunity to earn the same as
men. When this happens; the economy flourishes, businesses grow, and most importantly,
women have the opportunity to make their professional and financial dreams a reality.

EJKs
In the Philippine setting, extrajudicial killings have been a national problem. Numerous attempts
have surfaced throughout different administrations to eliminate the injustices brought about
extrajudicial killings, but have failed in addressing such issue. Philippine laws and jurisprudence
are inadequate to address extrajudicial killings that have resulted in thousands of deaths.
Justifying killings as a means to rid the country of drugs corroborates the notion that these drug
users and pushers are not part of humanity. This kind of rare definition saying they are sub-
humans and that it is lawful to take their lives away is the same kind of rhetoric that perpetuated
the Second World War. The lack of laws imputing individual criminal responsibility have
contributed to a climate that denies justice to the victims of such killings. Filipinos have been
subject to a culture of impunity for too long and it is high time that a proper recourse be given to
the victims most importantly since it is inflicted by the person who has both the powers to direct
and end the war on drugs in the first place.
Political Dynasties
Powerful political families have been a feature of Philippines politics for a long time. The
Constitution specifically prohibits dynasties, with the as-yet-unfulfilled provison "as defined by
law." But despite the spirit of that prohibition, dozens of families have maintained a permanent
presence in government for generations, and some have controlled the same positions for
decades. Cities and even entire provinces are routinely referred to as the "territory" of one
family or another. Some political families go to great lengths to hold their "territory," to the extent
of spending large sums of money, engaging in vote-buying and manipulation, and in some
cases even maintaining armed groups as a sort of "royal guard." This, in a nutshell, is the real
problem with political families. A big part of any elected official's job is to be "in charge of the
money." A mayor, for example, uses the city budget to pay salaries, build roads, and fund social
programs, among other things. So if we want to reduce the harmful effects of dynasties, we
shouldn't try to control the families; we should try to control the profit. The dynasty is another
problem that will simply evaporate once its root causes are addressed.