UN Special Rapporteur Lauds Philippines’ Strong Anchors and Prospects to Advance Freedom of Opinion and Expression
UN Special Rapporteur Irene Khan shares her preliminary observations during the exit conference to mark the conclusion of her official visit.
MANILA 02 February 2024 – The Philippine government affirmed its commitment to sustain dialogue with United Nations Special Rapporteur (UN SR), Ms. Irene Khan, in relation to national efforts to strengthen structures and mechanisms that uphold human rights and elevate media freedom, as the UN expert concluded her 10-day visit from 23 January to 02 February 2024.
SR Khan expressed gratitude for the hospitality and openness of Philippine government authorities throughout her meetings with all three branches of the government, including 24 executive agencies, dozens of local government leaders, over 10 members of the House of Representatives and seven members of the Supreme Court.
At the exit conference held today at the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), senior representatives of 20 agencies led by the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS), Presidential Human Rights Committee Secretariat (PHRCS), and the National Security Council (NSC), shared their perspectives on Ms. Khan’s observations and preliminary recommendations. Discussions clarified Philippine positions on key issues and agreed on further consultations on the recommendations and the completion of the Special Rapporteurs’ report.
DFA-Office of the United Nations and International Organizations (UNIO) Assistant Secretary Maria Teresa Almojuela emphasized that Ms. Khan’s many engagements with the government across the three branches, as well as media practitioners, civil society and other stakeholders in Manila, Baguio, Tacloban and Cebu, have been “crucial in deepening (the Special Rapporteur’s) understanding of the Philippine national context and appreciation for its multipronged efforts in promoting and safeguarding freedom of expression.”
Undersecretary Paul Gutierrez of PTFoMS underlined that the visit signified the transparency and openness of the Philippine government, pointing out that “under the Marcos Administration, we value any recommendation that would further strengthen the rule of law, transparency in governance, and expand our democratic space to encompass the varied voices in our society waiting to be heard.”
DOJ Undersecretary Raul Vasquez stressed the resolve of the government to “reform all aspects of judicial administration for the good of the Filipino people, and to guard and guarantee the human rights, dignity and security of all Filipinos”, while also acknowledging the UN’s respect for the sovereignty of states cooperating with UN human rights mechanisms. He affirmed the Government’s willingness to engage closely and constructively with the Special Rapporteur until and after the completion of her report.
Ms. Khan is the third UN Special Rapporteur to conduct a country visit in the last 14 months - equalling the number of SRs visiting the country in the last 17 years.
In her preliminary observations, Ms. Khan commended the country’s vibrant media landscape with over 2,000 private outlets, saying she was “deeply impressed” by the resilience and dynamism of civil society organizations (CSOs), surprised by the presence of about 60,000 CSOs in the Philippines.
While she welcomed developments in the cases of certain personalities, as well as the peace process, and the positive signal of the current administration that puts “people not politics” at the center of human rights initiatives, SR Khan noted that there is a need to sustain current reforms and pursue promising prospects for modernizing legal and administrative structures to protect journalists.
Government officials and the UN Special Rapporteur agreed that while some measures with impactful change will take time, notable steps are currently being taken in the right direction.
Ms. Khan also commended the Philippine pledges announced by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin at the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in December 2023. These pledges are: (1) establishment of a Human Rights Coordinating Council, (2) creation of a Philippine Training Institute for Forensic Science and Investigation, and (3) adoption of the Fourth Philippine National Human Rights Action Plan.
Ms. Khan's final report will be submitted and considered at the 59th Session of the UN Human Rights Council in June 2025. END
PH government representatives and UN Special Rapporteur Irene Khan discuss her preliminary observations during her 10-day country visit.