PRESS STATEMENT
4 May 2017

Statement on the World Press Freedom Day

The Commission on Human Rights Philippines is one in celebrating the World Press Freedom Day!

Today, we commemorate the fundamental principles of press freedom and pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the exercise of their profession. This is also an opportunity for us to assess the state of the fundamental human rights of freedom of expression, including its corollary press freedom and access to information locally and internationally, raise awareness of the importance of press freedom, and reflect on the crosscutting issues and professional ethics.

The Commission calls on, not only the Philippine Government but also the government leaders around the world, to respect, uphold and defend the right to freedom of expression enshrined under Article 19 of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and develop safety mechanisms and other appropriate measures to effectively address the deeply entrenched issues of this fundamental freedom. Let us keep in mind that each time a journalist and/or media worker is killed, truth dies with them. This is likewise true when publications are censored, fined, suspended and closed down.

The Commission likewise urges the members of the Congress of the Philippines to fast track the passage of the Freedom of Information Bill to ensure the citizens of its access to information and transparency in the government.