Manila, April 7 -- The Commission on Human Rights (CHR), along with the Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS), has enhanced protection measures for journalists, recognizing them as "human rights defenders" during the Stakeholders' Dialogue for Media Safety here on Tuesday.

In an interview, CHR chief of the Strategic Communications Division Marc Louis Siapno emphasized the crucial role of journalists in exposing violations and demanding accountability.

"We recognize journalists as human rights defenders by the inherent nature of your work. Journalists are important in telling the truth and exposing violations, but above all in demanding accountability," he said.

Siapno said the forum serves as a key mechanism for the CHR to...