Governmental institutions, non-governmental organizations and civilians, without distinction, as part of society, invoke and see everyday campaigns, researches, studies, etc., oriented towards warning, accusing and if it is the case, condemning as part of civic commitment, violations of human rights in defense of justice and the protection of human being´s freedom. All this laudable task is a result of the Human Rights Declaration which protects all of us equally.
However, inexplicably, little or nothing is said, little or nothing is done regarding the Declaration of Human Duties. Neither governmental institutions nor non-governmental institutions or spokespersons make campaigns not even educational, research or studies oriented towards (amongst many other aspects related to behavior) encouraging humans to ask themselves about what is being built and what their ethical and moral obligations are.
In the case of Colombia, the duty of NOT violating human rights is divulged, prevented and taught. In terms of the oil industry, undoubtedly, the violations of human collective and individual human rights are the main cause of the difficulties and disruption of its activities.
Even the Colombian Constitution of 1991 is poor in this matter; in the Title II – “Rights, Guarantees, and Duties” – Chapter 5 – “Duties and Obligations” it only lists nine (9) elements which end up lost in a summary leaving out many of the situations of violations of Human Duties that happen every day as four (4) chapters (which are still important) are dedicated to human rights.
Also, the new police code in process will hopefully have a more human approach in its content and won’t fall short in being a model of human duties.
A change in the mindset, a turnaround of 90° will be necessary in all those who form the Colombian Society to balance the social justice that the Universal Declaration invokes in two ways: Rights and Duties.
We are all committed, without exceptions, to honoring Human Duties!!! The situation of the country and that of the oil industry number 1 line of the country’s economy, would be quite different.
ECOP S.A.
June 20 2016