Inklusibo welcomes the initial findings of Irene Khan, the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Opinion, after her 10-day mission in the Philippines.

According to Khan, state-legitimized red-tagging and terror-tagging are prevailing issues that curtail the people’s freedom of expression. With this, the special rapporteur recommended the abolition of the NTF-ELCAC and the creation of policies against red-tagging and terror-tagging. The special rapporteur also recommended to look at the monopolized ownership of media institutions, the shut-down of mainstream broadcast media institutions and alternative media groups, and the use of policies against journalists and the people.

Inklusibo concurs with the special rapporteur’s initial findings and would like to emphasize that the identified points do not just suppress resistance and the growth of democratic spaces, but also hinder the realization of people-centered inclusive development. Freedom of expression and opinion is an important factor in campaigning for the right to the city, and this has been proven numerous times. Without such freedom, the people’s struggle remain unheard or even discarded by the state and the affluent who control the media.

Inklusibo stands with activists, rights defenders, and journalists who put their life on the line to speak truth to the people.

Defend Press Freedom!
Stop the Attacks!