University Judicial Forum: Human Dignity, Presumption of Innocence and Human Rights at Gómez Palacio, Durango
More than 150 university students attended the lectures of Tax Law, Justice and Human Rights at the Judicial Forum: “Human Dignity, Presumption of Innocence and Human Rights.”
In order to promote discussions in the academic, judicial and social spheres, the Global Embassy of Activists for Peace (GEAP) carried out the University Judicial Forum under the topic: “Human Dignity, Presumption of Innocence and Human Rights” on May 16, 2016, where students and teachers of the Autonomous University of Durango at the Laguna Campus (UAD) in Gómez Palacio, Durango, were present.
The Forum was carried out in collaboration with Alejandra Paez Pichardo, director of the Autonomous University of Durango at the Laguna Campus (UAD); Dr. Francisco Javier Guerra Gonzalez, national coordinator of the GEAP in Mexico; Jose Luis Pecina Alcala, oral judge of the Central Region of Nuevo Leon; Dr. Raul Rodriguez Vidal, funding president of the State Board of Director of the Academy of Tax Law in Coahuila A.C.; and Sarah Veronica de los Santos, Second visitor of the State Commission on Human Rights in Durango; were present as speakers.
In her welcoming remarks, Alejandra Paez Pichardo, thanked the fact that she shared knowledge and awareness activities with the university for the students; she also invited the GEAP team to carry out forums like these throughout the UAD network.
The speech “Presumption of Innocence” directed by Jose Luis Pecina Alcala, showed the importance of the presumption of innocence in human rights:
“By speaking about presumption of innocence, we definitely have to be aware that humans are born free. Being free is the only way to be able to be happy.”
He also explained how this right can easily be violated, as well as its function and limits in legal matters; at the same time, he ended with the quote:
“Investigate to detain; not: detain to investigate.”
Dr. Raul Rodriguez Vidal was the speaker in charge of the topic “Human Dignity,” exposing the starting point of human rights and adding:
“The quality of worth, is recognized in every human being by the simple act of being so; and that quality should be protected without exception.”
He also mentioned that this right is supreme and for that reason no one can be deprived of it, every individual living in society has the right and the faculty to be respected and to respect those who are around him.
The theme of “Human Rights” was given to Sarah de los Santos, who addressed the meaning of human dignity and the sensitivity one must have on acts that violate human rights, the importance that students have to know Human Rights, and in addition, the congruence that must exist between what is thought and what is done. She concluded her lecture with a phrase of reflection:
“Being a good judge only requires being a good person; congruent in thinking, saying and doing; honesty and ethics when judging rightfully and rationally.”
There was also the special presence of Dr. Jesús Alberto Leon Marquez, a specialist in Human Rights in the State of Coahuila, Zacatecas, Chihuahua and Nuevo Leon.
The University Judicial Forum ended with the delivery of recognitions to the speakers and thanking the students and teachers of the Law and Criminology Department.
