CHR launches its first-ever Human Rights-Based Approach Training to Reporting for Filipino Journalists

The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) proudly launches the 2025 Training on Human Rights-Based Approach (HRBA) to Reporting this 31 March 2025 at Luxent Hotel, Quezon City. This training is part of CHR’s ongoing efforts to support journalists in strengthening ethical, responsible, and human rights-centered reporting.

Building on the momentum of the 2023 National Media Forum—which spotlighted the challenges faced by media practitioners—this initiative seeks to equip journalists with the tools and knowledge necessary to integrate HRBA principles into their reporting, both in traditional and digital platforms.

Aligned with the Philippine Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists (PPASJ), this training also aims to cultivate a media environment that is ethical, inclusive, and rights-respecting—ensuring that stories not only inform, but also empower and uphold human dignity.

CHR believes that through this capacity-building effort, media professionals will gain a deeper understanding of the HRBA in journalism, including its application in news writing, investigative reporting, and digital content creation.

Given the complex challenges facing the media sector, particularly in the digital age, it is crucial to reinforce journalists’ skills in fact-checking, responsible reporting, and human rights-based storytelling. These are essential in upholding truth, promoting accountability, and preserving the integrity of journalism in service of democracy in these modern times.

“As truth-tellers and storytellers, journalists carry the immense responsibility of shaping public discourse,” said CHR Chairperson Richard Paat Palpal-latoc. “By embracing the human rights-based approach to reporting, we not only safeguard press freedom, but also affirm the media’s vital role in advancing justice, dignity, and the common good.”

As the country’s independent national human rights institution, the CHR remains steadfast in its mandate to foster ethical and rights-based media practices. Through sustained partnerships with the media, we aim to strengthen public trust and reinforce the media’s role as a pillar of democracy and human rights advocacy.

Para sa malaya at mapagpalayang pamamahayag! ###