On Friday, February 9, 2024, United Nations Special Reporter Irene Khan concluded her nearly two-week visit to the Philippines with a poignant call for intensified efforts to safeguard journalists’ lives and the abolition of an anti-communism task force that stifles freedom of expression. Her statements underscored the gravity of the human rights situation in the country, particularly concerning press freedom and the safety of media practitioners. Throughout her visit, Khan engaged with government officials, activists, and even met with a detained journalist, gaining firsthand insights into the challenges faced by those advocating for human rights and journalistic integrity in the Philippines.
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Irene Khan condemned the targeting of journalists as the ‘most flagrant form of censorship’ and emphasized that the Philippines remains perilous for press practitioners. She stressed the necessity of greater actions to combat impunity in such cases. Quoting figures from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Khan highlighted that 81cases of journalist killings remain unresolved, with at least four incidents occurring since Ferdinand Marcos Jr. assumed the presidency in 2022. The Philippines is positioned at 132nd place out of 180 countries on the World Press Freedom Index.
“There is clear evidence that red-tagging and terror-tagging are being practiced by security forces as part of their counterterrorism strategy.”
– Irene Khan, United Nations Special Reporter
As journalist fatalities continue to increase worldwide, conflicts in various regions claim lives and pose serious threats to press freedom. Amidst these sobering realities, Irene Khan’s visit serves as a reminder of the collective responsibility to defend the principles of free speech, accountability, and human rights, not only in the Philippines but wherever they are under threat.
Philippines: Journalists Killing Scenario
The Philippines, despite its reputation as one of Asia’s more liberal countries for journalists, has a troubling record regarding their safety. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) identifies it as one of the most dangerous places globally for journalists, with violence persisting even after the establishment of the Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) in 2016. The country’s press freedom index for 2022 ranks 147th out of 180 evaluated by RSF. The 2009 Maguindanao massacre significantly worsened this situation, leading to the Philippines being ranked 156th the following year by RSF and becoming the third worst in the Global Impunity Index (GII) until 2014. Despite improvements noted in 2018, the country remained one of the deadliest for journalists in the mid-2010s, according to RSF.
The Global Impunity Index (GII) has included the Philippines since its inception in 2008, with the country ranking 8th in impunity for journalist killings in the 2023 list. The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) reports 199 media workers killed since 1986, with the highest number occurring during the administration of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, including the infamous Maguindanao massacre in 2009 where 32 journalists were killed. Other organizations like the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and UNESCO provide similar but slightly different figures on journalist killings.
Most victims were radio personalities, particularly blocktime commentators, often affiliated with local politicians and lacking in journalistic ethics awareness, especially in Mindanao. Killings typically happen in provinces where journalists expose local wrongdoing and receive threats. Perpetrators, often unidentified and suspected to be hired killers, use motorcycles in their attacks.
Data also showcases journalists killed in crossfire or during coup attempts, with little progress in prosecuting masterminds or convicting perpetrators. Task forces like PTFoMS have been established to address these issues but face challenges, including political pressure and logistical shortcomings.
Global Journalist Fatalities over the Years
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) reported on December 31, 2023, that 120 journalists and media workers, including 11 women, lost their lives that year. Among them, four tragically perished in Europe: three in Ukraine and one in Albania. The IFJ, which initially documented 94 killings before UN Human Rights Day on December 8, noted that the rise in numbers was due to additional deaths in the Gaza conflict and other incidents reported to the federation. In 2023, 68% of journalists and media workers worldwide who lost their lives were victims of the Gaza conflict, as per the Federation’s data.
According to IFJ 120 journalists and media workers were killed in 2023
- Across the Middle East, the conflict in Gaza claimed the lives of 75 Palestinian, 4 Israeli, and 3 Lebanese journalists, with three media workers also killed in Syria.
- In the Asia-Pacific region, 12 journalists were killed, including those in India (3), Afghanistan (2), the Philippines (2), Bangladesh (2), Pakistan (2), and China (1).
- North and South America saw the deaths of 10 journalists in 2023, including 3 Mexicans, 1 Paraguayan, 3 Guatemalan, 1 Colombian, 1 Honduran, and 1 American.
- In Africa, the IFJ expressed concern over 8 murders in Cameroon (2), Sudan (1), Lesotho (1), Mali (1), Somalia (1), Mozambique (1), and Nigeria (1), which remain unresolved, along with 1 accidental killing in Rwanda.
- In Europe, Ukraine witnessed the deaths of 3 journalists and media workers (Ukrainian fixer Bohdan Bitik, Russian journalist Rotislav Zhuravlev, and French journalist Arman Soldin), while Albania mourned the loss of 1 media worker (bodyguard Pal Kola).
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) published an analysis revealing that nearly 1,700 journalists worldwide were killed between 2003 and 2022, averaging over 80 deaths annually. The two decades marked a particularly deadly period for journalists striving to uphold the right to information. RSF emphasized the human toll behind these figures, acknowledging the sacrifice of journalists dedicated to uncovering the truth. Iraq and Syria were identified as the most perilous countries for journalists, with a combined total of 578 fatalities. Following were Mexico, the Philippines, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Somalia.
The years 2012 and 2013 witnessed the highest number of journalist killings, primarily due to the Syrian conflict. Although there was a decline in casualties from 2019 onwards, they surged again in 2022, attributed in part to the war in Ukraine. Notably, Ukraine became the most dangerous European country for journalists, second only to Russia. Turkey and France also ranked among the most hazardous places for journalists, with France marked by the Charlie Hebdo massacre in 2015.
Journalist Attacks in Bangladesh
On October 28, 2023, during rallies in Dhaka, Bangladesh, at least 27 journalists were attacked by supporters of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). This incident was reported by the local press freedom group Bangladeshi Journalists in International Media, journalists interviewed by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), and various news outlets.
A total of twenty journalists have been killed in Bangladesh since 2000, with 14 of these deaths occurring between 2000 and 2006 during the BNP-Jamaat regime, according to Prof Abu Jafar Md Shafiul Alam Bhuiyan of Dhaka University.
Journalist Gouranga Nandyhighlighted the dangerous environment for journalists in the southwestern region during the period from 2002 to 2005, leading many journalists to come to Dhaka for safety. Notable incidents during this time include the murders of several journalists, including Manik Saha, Humayun Kabir Balu, Goutam Das, Harun-or-Rashid, Shukur Hossain, and Sheikh Belaluddin.
In conclusion, Irene Khan’s visit to the Philippines underscored the urgent need to protect journalists and uphold press freedom. With a poignant call for intensified efforts and the abolition of stifling measures, Khan’s insights illuminate the grave human rights situation, emphasizing the global imperative to defend free speech and journalistic integrity.
