UN Special Rapporteur Irene Khan offers recommendations for freedom of speech in Philippines
MANDALUYONG, PHILIPPINES - FEB. 2, 2024: United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Opinion Irene Khan on Friday (Feb. 2) expressed her recommendations about freedom of speech and journalism for the Philippines after a 10-day visit to the country.
“The damage caused by the previous administration has reduced media pluralism and public trust in independent journalism because of the viral disinformation and troll campaigns. Aside from killings and libel cases against critical journalists, the non-renewal of the franchise of ABS and CBN, one of the country's largest broadcasting, television, and radio networks in 2020, was a major blow to media freedom.”
“The killing of journalists is the most egregious form of censorship, and the Philippines remains a dangerous country for journalists, according to UNESCO. There are some 81 cases of killings of journalists that remain to be resolved. That is, they have not been investigated, or prosecuted. Clearly, much more needs to be done to attack impunity. What I will tell you that the Philippines is the eighth worst state for impunity.”
You know what capacity, resource or expertise they have in resolving these cases. That is why, of course, it makes justice, focusing on justice, focusing on addressing impunity, a huge imperative for the government domestically or internationally”
“As some of the officials have actually claimed, it is targeting legitimate activists, sowing distrust between the state, communities and civil society, and the dangers are evident. The vilification is often being followed by threats, unlawful surveillance attacks or even unlawful killing. It intimidates and chews freedom of expression. It suppresses legal activism. It isolates and antagonizes those who are unfairly attacked.”
(Footage by Dante Dennis Diosina Jr II /Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)