Hontiveros gets int’l award for social justice work

MANILA, Philippines — A European network of civil society organizations bestowed an award to Sen. Risa Hontiveros for her contributions to social justice and solidarity.

The opposition lawmaker received the Silver Rose Award from SOLIDAR, a Belgium-based network of non-governmental organizations “working to advance social justice in Europe and worldwide.”

The Silver Rose Award is given to civil society organizations and individuals “whose extraordinary struggles contribute greatly to social justice and solidarity throughout the world.”

.@Weidenholzer "it's an honour for us to celebrate @risahontiveros a progressive politician who is fighting for ideals and freedom in the Philippines" #SilverRose #together pic.twitter.com/Sy4KPfMigQ

— SOLIDAR (@Solidar_EU) January 29, 2019

Aside from Hontiveros, also awarded this year were Mujeres Supervivientes de Violencia de Genero (Women Survivors of Gender Violence) of Spain, Romaversitas Foundation of Hungary, Neven Subotic Foundation of Germany and PRODIVERSA of Spain.

In her acceptance speech, Hontiveros said that the award serves as a reminder and a challenge.

“It is a reminder that victory can be achieved in the midst of such terrible circumstances. But for me and for my party Akbayan, this Silver Rose is also a challenge to do more: to persevere, to organize, to remain committed to the values that define us, to continue speaking truth to power, to find hope amid despair, and — in the end — to know that victory is within reach,” she said.

The lawmaker also mentioned the government’s brutal war on drugs — which she said terrorizes poor communities in the country — and the moves to lower the minimum age of criminal responsibility in her speech last January 29.

“It is not enough that the drug war has been tainted by the blood of innocent children; now the government wants to institutionalize a policy that will cast them to an unforgiving criminal justice system,” she said.

Hontiveros added: “Indeed, there is so much work that needs to be done, and a fight for my country’s soul and my country’s future looms large.”

Hontiveros authored the Mental Health Law, Philippines HIV and AIDS Policy Act of 2018, Kalusugan at Nutrisyon ng Mag-Nanay Act and Strengthened Anti-Hospital Deposit Law.