Gov’t pressed to take adequate action for media workers’ safety

The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) us pressing the government to provide sufficient mechanisms to ensure a safer environment for media workers in the country (INQUIRER.net file photo)

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) pressed the government to provide sufficient mechanisms to ensure a safer environment for media workers in the country.

The CHR emphasized “the need to confront the factors which breed a climate of impunity in the country and imperil the lives of journalists.”

“More than ever, the CHR is always ready to take part in this process to ensure that our fourth estate remains a pillar foundational to our democracy,” it added.

READ: CHR and the safety of journalists

The CHR’s call came as it announced the impending launch of Alisto! Alert Mechanism, an online platform where journalists and other media workers may report personal experiences of human rights violations.

The unveiling of Alisto! Alert Mechanism platform is part of the National Press Week celebration, which is held every second week of February, the CHR noted in a statement Saturday.

It added that the initiative is in line with the CHR’s goal to determine how it can take part in the full implementation of the Philippine Plan of Action for the Safety of Journalists as it vowed to “take a more active stance” in improving the welfare of media workers in the Philippines.

READ: Gov’t forges solutions, alliances for media workers safety

“The role of media in our society cannot be overstated. The media – you – serve as a beacon of truth, a guardian of democracy, and a powerful catalyst for change,” CHR head Richard Palpal-latoc said during the National Media Forum in November 2023, where the idea for the Alisto! Alert Mechanism was initially introduced.

“In its noblest form, the media acts as a check and balance on those in power, holding them accountable for their actions. It is, in many ways, the lifeblood of democracy,” he also said.