The strings of violations and threats to our human rights may have gone off mainstream news media after months of uproar during quarantine due to the passage of the Anti-Terrorism Act in July, but it still pays to know them by heart especially now when they are more prone to being disregarded.
[READ: Rights rundown: What you can and refuse to do when facing arrest]
To make sure everyone is aware of their rights, the oldest human rights lawyers network in the Philippines, Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG), as early as April has made infographics on the Bill of Rights as prescribed by the 1987 constitution. The Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism has since translated FLAG’s Know Your Rights primer into Filipino to make it more accessible.
Now the said primer is an app that everyone can download for free and consult whenever they find themselves or someone they know in a situation that threatens their mandated liberties.
Developed by the non-profit Foundation for Media Alternatives, the FMA – Know Your Rights app is currently available for download on Android and Apple devices through Google Play and App Store.
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The app works even without internet connection or data and gives users a run-through of situations from basic rights, search ops, arrests to detention, and what they can do as part of the Bill of Rights.
Just like the original primer, users can choose between English and Filipino.
Atty. Chel Diokno, whose father is one of the founders of FLAG, lauded the effort and thanked everyone who was part of the initiative. “Sana makatulong ito sa mga kababayan natin. Hope you can support so we can encourage more innovations in defending our rights. Salamat sa lahat ng tumulong sa pag-develop nito!” he said.
Header image screenshot from FMA- Know Your Rights app
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