The Future Depends on What You Do Today, Part 1

The title is a quote from a great man – Mahatma Gandhi, one of the most transformative and inspirational figures in modern day history. His fearless campaign for the rights and dignity of all people, through constant and unwavering promotion of non-violence, has left its mark in this world. Today, the 2nd day of October 2019, as declared by the United Nations, is the International Non-Violence Day.

How do we define violence? Violence is a destructive and brutal action. It destroys the body and the mind. The World Health Organization defines it as “the intentional use of physical force or power, threatened or actual, against oneself, another person, or a group of community, which either results in or has a high likelihood of resulting in injury, death, psychological harm, maldevelopment, or deprivation.”

Violence can be present anywhere. Acts of violence can come in different degrees and forms. It can be in the midst of friends, partners and spouses; inside the family; in schools; the workplace; organizations (fraternities and sororities); social institutions (nursing homes, retirement homes), and in uniformed men and women of the armed forces.

Violence in schools

The recent death of one Philippine Military 4th class cadet and a few other members of his class in crutches prove not only the ill effects of violence, but also the presence of violence among the young men and women of society. Violence inside the school campus can come in many faces. It includes physical violence (including student-to-student fighting), in fraternity and sorority hazing, maltreatment, or corporal punishments, psychological abuses, verbal abuses, sexual violence (rape and sexual harassment), many forms of bullying (including cyberbullying) and carrying weapons in school.

Anti-Hazing Law of 2018

Under Republic Act 11053 that was signed into law in 2018, hazing is a criminal offense. It is punishable by life imprisonment, not to mention the civil liability that goes with the punishable act. What if the person or neophyte consented to the initiation rites? The law provides that any waiver, approval, or agreement, whether written or not, is not an excuse for culpability under the new Anti-Hazing Law. The law provides: "The defense that the recruit, neophyte, or applicant consented to being subjected to hazing shall not be available to persons prosecuted under this Act."

(To be continued)