01/11/2020
CPSS celebrates UN Month Talk with Chel Diokno, Samantha Sadorra
By Reanne Francisco
The Carolinian Political Science Society orchestrated a webinar on “Role Conception Together with the United Nations” in lieu with this month’s UN celebration and its 75th year anniversary. The online talk via Zoom and Facebook live was streamed at 9:00-11:00 AM this day, October 31. The event was graced with guest speaker, Ms. Samantha Sadorra of the UN 2030 project and keynote speaker, Atty. Jose Manuel Diokno, founding dean of DLSU College of Law and Chairman of the Free Legal Assistance Group.
Department Chair, Ms. Brenette Abrenica in her opening remarks, addressed the attendees and speakers by acknowledging how the United Nation’s 75th year anniversary reminds us of the essence of the international organization, which is to bring countries together in a collective need to address global issues.
Ms. Abrenica added that “The importance of life, and of equality, and of justice will have to come from the voices from the ground,” emphasizing in her speech, the role of the youth in taking the initiative and resonating not just the present needs but the needs of the future generation.
Guest speaker, Ms. Samantha Sadorra introduced the 2030 project of the United Nations which serves as a universal call of action in achieving the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. She discussed each of the said goals and the ways on how the youth can achieve it utilizing their own capacities and advocacies as youth leaders.
Ms. Sadorra also gave some insights on the ways that the youth can be capable of fulfilling the SDG’s and implement it to their respective local communities. Wherein, as a youth, we are able to do this through participation in policy-making, promotion and empowerment of the rights of the people, creating one’s platforms and initiatives, choosing sustainable choices, and putting pressure to local leaders and the government to act on issues. Ms. Sadorra ended her talk by advising the audience to find the right SDG and use it to become a life-long advocate of such goal.
Atty. Jose Manuel Diokno, the keynote speaker, followed with his discussion on the role of future leaders in nation-building. He first shared about his own awakening on the injustices in our country when his own father was unjustly put to prison during the Martial Law regime. He also indicated how the 1970’s contained some of the hardests memories in his life. With such experiences, this motivated him to become a human rights lawyer himself.
Atty. Diokno continued by speaking about the different challenges that he encountered as a human rights lawyer. He stated that, “It takes a lot of courage to fight for our rights.” But he reminds the youth to persevere because if one really believes in something, then one will do it despite the fear.
The dedication, determination, and the drive of young people nowadays, inspired Atty. Diokno to continue his advocacy. He acknowledged that the real push of change in the country came from the youth. He then addressed his young audience to exercise their right to vote and encouraged them to believe that no one is ever too young to help the country and change its course of direction. An open forum proceeded, where the audience had the opportunity to ask questions from Atty. Diokno himself.
The program concluded with a closing remarks by Mr. Philip Jezrael Nobleza, President of the Carolinian Political Science Society, reiterating the relevance of the 17 SDGs in our own contexts, and saying that, “Everywhere in our communities, there is the plentiness of inequality that needs to be addressed, and because of this, we must continue to move forward with our own fights and advocacies.”
The Webinar on Role Conception together with the United Nations is a concluding activity prepared by the USC Carolinian Political Science Society in accordance with the first ever Virtual USC Days 2020.
