IN CELEBRATION of the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, “Tao Po”, a critically-acclaimed play/monologue of four characters in the context of the government’s war on drugs campaign will be held at the University of Cordillera auditorium on Friday, February 8 at 4 p.m.

The play is a solo performance by actress/activist Mae Paner, more popularly known as Juana Change.

The activity is part of “Artist for Human Rights/Luzon Project” slated on Feb. 8 and 9 sponsored by the University of the Cordilleras in conjunction with Hudyat: Artists for Human Dignity, the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) and a network of Baguio-based artists and cultural groups composed of Dap-ayan ti Kultura iti Kordilyera (DKK), Let’s Organize for Democracy and Integrity (LODI), and the Baguio Writers Group.

CHR regional office staff Aloysius Igopen said a discussion on the subject of human rights and extra-judicial killings will follow immediately after.

The performance is open to the public. For more information, contact CHR-CAR hotline nos. 0999-889-5009 or 0917-854-3133.

He said the project aims to support a series of activities aimed at gathering and building a network of artists and cultural workers to work together with CHR and civil society advocates, in educating the public particularly the young people on the concepts of human dignity and human rights, so that they can become future defenders and advocates of these core values.

“Human rights violations remain a major problem in the country particularly in the context of the government’s war on drugs. To effectively respond to the times, the CHR is enjoining various stakeholders to advance the cause of human rights,” Igopen explained.

He added that Dakila and Hudyat: Artists for Human Dignity are two organizations who work with artists and cultural workers in the country who were invited to collaborate in this endeavor. (PR)