The International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists will be observed on Friday, November 2. A 2014 United National General Assembly resolution condemned all violence targeting journalists and urged member states to ensure accountability regarding such cases.
According to the resolution, member-states are requested to “promote a safe and enabling environment for journalists to perform their work independently and without undue interference” and to “do their utmost to prevent violence against journalists and media workers.”
According to a 2017 report by Reporters Sans Frontières (Reporters Without Borders), they found the Philippines ranked number 127 in their annual World Press Freedom Index; notably, behind countries including Afghanistan, the Congo, and Uganda.
“[The] Philippines continues to be one of the most dangerous countries for the media,” they surmised. “Private militias, often hired by local politicians, silence journalists with complete impunity.”
The Philippines 2016 Human Rights Report, conducted by the United States Department of State, revealed similar findings when it came to freedom of the press in the country.
“Media commentators criticized most media outlets for lacking rigorous journalistic standards and for reflecting the particular political or economic orientations of owners, publishers, or patrons, some of whom were close associates of present or past high-level officials,” the report found.
According to the UN, between 2006 and 2017, close to 1,010 journalists have been killed for reporting the news./WDJ