For the first time, the Embassy of the United States in Manila has partnered with the Philippine
Press Institute in conducting simultaneous programs in seven areas for the
World Press Freedom Day.
On May 4, various programs will be conducted in Manila , Cebu, Davao ,
Bulacan, Gen. Santos, Baguio ,
and Cagayan de Oro with PPI members in said areas at the helm. The main focus
of each program is decriminalizing libel which is an offshoot of the two forums
on the subject conducted at the University of the Philippines College of Law
and Orchid Garden Suites organized by the PPI and the Philippine Press Council.
The third leg should build on initiatives from the two forums in providing
venues to further discuss libel and other topics that affect the media
industry.
Other topics such as the freedom of information act,
killings of journalists, ethics, media accountability, right of reply, and
press freedom are a host of media-related subjects that can be chosen by each
area as attendant or accompanying segment for its own program.
The World Press Freedom Day activity is the first regional
initiative following the 16th National Press Forum from April 23 to 24 at
Traders Hotel Manila, which among other topics, also discussed libel in the
industry forum.
The U.S. Embassy found it an advantage to be conducting the
programs in the areas that have American Corners in De La Salle
University-Manila, St. Louis University in Baguio, University of San Carlos in
Cebu, Xavier University in Cagayan de Oro, and Ateneo de Davao University which
are venues for the simultaneous celebrations. Bulacan will have Bulacan State
University and Notre Dame University
In Manila ,
U.S.
On January 31 this year, the United Nations Human Rights
Committee (UNHRC) released a resolution declaring the country’s libel law
discordant with the provision in the International Covenant on Civil and Political
Rights that upholds free expression as a right. The Philippine is the lone
signatory of the international protocol in Southeast Asia .
The Committee holds the country’s dated and draconian criminal libel law
“incompatible with Article 19, paragraph 3 of the ICCPR” or freedom of
expression.
( First posted at www.philpressintitute.com)
The Philippine is the lone signatory of the international protocol in Southeast Asia. PPI Claims
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