Michelle Bachelet.
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights

Dear Madam High Commissioner,

The Global Alliance on Media and Gender (GAMAG) joins other press freedom organizations around the world to condemn the convictions of Maria Ressa and Reynaldo Santos Jr and to affirm the rights of these and other journalists in the Philippines to report freely on the situation of violence, corruption and deteriorating civil liberties in their nation.

GAMAG stands in solidarity with calls for the Philippine courts to abandon these wrongful convictions and to restore these journalists to their professional status, enabling them to work as reporters.

GAMAG appeals to you to exercise necessary pressure on the Government of the Philippines to follow the UN Human Rights Council’s recent recommendation enshrined in the Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on the situation of human rights in the Philippines, in various context of humans rights violations and in particular in the context of civic space to:

"i. Take confidence-building measures to foster trust with civil society organizations and facilitate their engagement with State institutions mandated to respond to human rights concerns, without reprisal; Halt - and condemn – incitement to hatred and violence and other harmful, threatening and misogynistic rhetoric against human rights defenders and other Government critics – offline and online;

ii. Ensure that the rights to freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly are respected and protected; Drop politically-motivated charges against human rights defenders, political opponents, journalists and media organizations, legal and judicial officials, trade unionists, church workers, and others; Take legal measures to ensure their protection, particularly following threats, including of gender-based violence; Ensure there are no reprisals against those persons and entities which have engaged with OHCHR for the present report" (p. 17).

GAMAG is a global alliance of individuals and organizations that advocate for gender equality in and through the media, and stands for the democratic freedom of expression for all.

We thank you Dr. Bachelet for your action.

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