The rights inherent to a person as a logical sequel to birth are what human rights is all about.

They are natural rights: Universal, general, and fundamental, although some “theorists limit human rights to the right to life, or to life and freedom of opportunity.”

In either case, human rights are too basic in humanity that, however late, the United Nations adapted it on March 15, 2006 with the creation of the United Nations Council.

Its primary purpose is to strengthen and promote the ideals and practice of human rights worldwide.

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What is significant is that the Philippines is a founding member of the United Nations Human Rights Council created by the UN General Assembly.

In a statement the other day, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto G. Romulo made mention of the importance of the Council to the Philippines and announced that the country is seeking reelection to the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) for 2011-2013.

Romulo made the disclosure even as he said the country’s reelection bid is accentuated, in bold relief, by the government’s progress and initiatives on human rights issues at national, regional, and international levels both in groundwork and preparations.

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It may be recalled that in centuries past, particularly in the 18th century thinkers were said to have emphasized more civil and political right such as freedom of speech and religion, and freedom from slavery, torture, and arbitrary arrests.

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Last year, the Philippines served in the UNHRC as vice president and played key role through the Philippine Permanent Mission in the United Nations Headquarters in Geneva.

At his recent attendance at the high-level segment of the Human Rights Council in Geneva, Secretary Romulo pledged the Philippines’ full support to the Council’s agenda, at the same time exhorting more international alliances and interrelations among nations on human rights issues.

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Romulo also underlined the role of human rights education and training in the promotion of tolerance, understanding, and development.

All this, of course, is in line with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, a landmark document that extends the concept to include rights to self-determination, peace, and a healthy environment.

Here in this country, as in many less developed countries around the world, the focus should move to economic and social rights, including the right to work and the right to a minimum standard of living among the less fortunate of our people.

(zhern_218@yahoo.com)