Pinas, may pagkakataon na para maipakita ang pagsisikap na protektahan ang karapatan ng mga mamamayan – NTF-ELCAC

MAIPAPAKITA na ng Pilipinas sa international community ang kakayahan ng pamahalaan na protektahan ang karapatan ng bawat mamamayang Filipino.

Nakatakda kasing dumating si United Nations Special Rapporteur (UNSR) on freedom of opinion and expression Irene Khan sa bansa, araw ng Martes, Enero 23.

Pangungunahan ni Undersecretary Ernesto Torres Jr., executive director ng National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) ang pag-welcome kay Khan.

“This visit provides an excellent opportunity for NTF-ELCAC and other government agencies to engage with the Special Rapporteur and highlight the government’s efforts in protecting and promoting the rights of every human being in the country,” ayon kay Torres.

Looking forward naman ang task force na magdaos ng “constructive dialogue and collaboration” kay Khan, nakatakda kasing manatili si Khan sa bansa hanggang Pebrero 2 bunsod na rin ng imbitasyon ng gobyerno sa kanya na obserbahan ang kalagayan ng “freedom of expression” sa Pilipinas.

“With this visit, we aim to foster an environment where diverse viewpoints can coexist while upholding the principles of truth, respect for human rights, and ethical journalism,” ayon pa rin kay Torres.

Sa ulat, inimbitahan ni Khan, gamit ang kanyang X account (dating Twitter) ang civil society, human rights organizations, media organizations, experts at academics, at Iba pang interesadong stakeholders at indibiduwal na ibahagi ang anumang impormasyon o nalalaman ukol sa national normative framework kaugnay sa freedom of opinion at expression sa Pilipinas kabilang na ang right to information, regulasyon na may kinalaman sa disinformation at hate speech, at kanilang implementasyon.

Bubungkalin din ni Khan ang media freedom sa pamamagitan ng pag-identify sa national laws, regulations and practice hinggil sa “independence, freedom, pluralism and diversity ng print at broadcast media” at maging ang kaligtasan ng mga journalists at media workers.

Bahagi pa rin ng agenda nito ay ang idetermina ang kalagayan ng internet freedom sa bansa at kung paano ipinatutupad ang batas at kasanayan ukol sa “digital communications, privacy in communications at access to digital communications.”

Magdaraos din siya ng talakayan kasama ang iba’t ibang “civic organizations, religious groups, indigenous peoples at marginalized communities” upang makuha ang pananaw ng mga ito sa kalagayan ng vulnerable sectors.

Para kay Torres, ang NTF-ELCAC, minsan ng naging kontrobersiyal matapos akusahan ng pagre-red-tag sa leftist groups at dissenters, ngayon ay “advocates the whole-of-nation approach to attain lasting peace” as it is “committed to upholding the rule of law and strongly condemns all forms of abuse or violence against women and children.”

“The National Task Force is also dedicated to transparency and responsible communications focusing mainly in disseminating accurate and reliable information, countering false narratives, and combating disinformation to protect the Filipino people from the threats of terrorism and violent extremism,” ding pahayag ni Torres. (Daris Jose)