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CHR cites media as 'indispensable partner' in fight vs human rights abuses
CHR cites media as 'indispensable partner' in fight vs human rights abuses
Commission on Human Rights (CHR) Chairperson Richard Palpal-latoc has cited the country's media as an "indispensable partner" in the fight against human rights abuses as he stressed the need to beef up the safety and protection of media workers in the pursuit of their jobs.
"Media has been the CHR's indispensable partner in acquainting the public about human rights, in clarifying our stance on pressing human rights issues, and in explaining about the CHR mandate," Palpal-latoc said in a social media post.
"We recognize that, in a time when disinformation and other human rights violations persist, the media is important in truth-telling and this role often places them at risk of threats, harassment, and violence," he lamented.
The Philippine National Commission for United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), also known as PH Nat Com or UNACOM, has reported that there have been 164 work-related cases of journalist killings from April 1986 to July 2019 documented by the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility.
The members of the media continue to face physical and digital attacks and threats, Palpal-latoc said.
This is the reason why the CHR is pushing the Philippine Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists (PPASJ) which is a national plan based on the United Nation (UN) Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity, he said.
The CHR has also backed the PPASJ which it called as an initiative that would contribute to a more secure and enabling environment for media practitioners, reinforcing their role in a democratic society.
"The safety of journalists is not just a matter of law, but a reflection of our collective commitment to upholding human rights and defending the truth," Palpal-latoc pointed out.
He said: "Let us lay the groundwork that will give us a future worth looking forward to: a future where inclusivity is embraced; where equality, justice, and freedom are championed; where dignity and respect are accorded to all. We deserve nothing less."