Share on facebook
Facebook
Share on twitter
Twitter
Share on email
Email

Freedom of opinion and expression

In a meeting with visiting United Nations Special Rapporteur Irene Khan, leaders of the House of Representatives assured her of the passage of key legislation supporting freedom of opinion and expression, informing her that a total of 14 bills of that nature are currently pending before the chamber at the committee level.

Of the 14 bills, Khan particularly appealed to the lawmakers to prioritize three, according to a House statement last week.

Those are the human rights defenders bill, which seeks more protection for human rights workers; the media welfare bill, which calls for “humane conditions at work” for the press; and the bill decriminalizing libel.

The 14 measures, which include bills related to freedom of information, media workers’ welfare, and the protection of news sources, are currently pending at the committee level. The lawmakers also informed Khan that the House was still studying draft measures to decriminalize libel.

Media groups in the country, along with the United Nations itself, have long been clamoring for the decriminalization of libel, saying the law was being abused or “weaponized” to silence journalists and suppress legitimate, critical reporting.

Regarding the three bills Khan hoped to be prioritized, the House statement quoted her as saying: “These three would be absolutely critical to make sure you are on set to mainstream human rights in the country.”

Passing bills related to human rights and its defenders, and those supporting freedom of opinion and expression, won’t come easy, especially with government groups like the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict, which sees such bills as a shield for the communist insurgents it is hell bent on pursuing. However, if those freedoms that we are supposedly fighting for are going to be defended by more than just guns and red tagging, such laws will be necessary. Hopefully our lawmakers continue to improve the human rights environment in this country by enacting laws that will make it easier to fight for our freedoms whenever it becomes necessary.*

ARCHIVES

Read Article by date

February 2025
MTWTFSS
 12
3456789
10111213141516
17181920212223
2425262728 

Get your copy of the Visayan Daily Star everyday!

Avail of the FREE 30-day trial.