HONG KONG/ASIA: Media briefing -- Prevention of torture to promote freedom of expression in Asia
June 22, 2012
(Hong
Kong, June 22, 2012) The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) and
Centre for Comparative and Public Law (CCPL) at the University of Hong
Kong, are inviting journalists for a discussion with former journalists
and the widow of a murdered journalist about the importance of the
prevention of torture to promote freedom of expression.
Freedom
of expression is the cornerstone of the protection of civil liberties;
and journalists play a crucial role in this. Without freedom of
expression, prevention of torture by documenting these cases would be
difficult. The role of investigative journalists in exposing torture
cases Asian countries, where authoritarian and oppressive structures
continue to operate, is very important.
The
denial of freedom of expression has had serious implications, not only
in the protection of absolute freedom from torture, but also in the
practice of journalism in developing countries in Asia.
As
an illustration, journalists involved in documentation of torture cases
have been killed and face continuing threats, like the case of the
victims and survivors of the Maguindanao massacre in the Philippines;
journalists who were tortured, killed and forcibly disappeared in
Pakistan and journalists in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh who have had to
leave their countries after they were targeted and tortured for
reporting on torture.
In
most developing counties, journalists provide opportunities for
possibilities of remedy by documenting their case. The victims and their
families seek their support for redress. The journalist plays an
important role because their reporting draws attention in creating
socio-political discourse seeking for appropriate intervention by the
State and public.
The
speakers for this event are Md. Ashrafuzzaman, Bangladesh; Nilantha
Ilangamuwa, Sri Lanka; and Baseer Naveed, Pakistan. These journalists
have been actively involved in advocating for the prevention of torture
so as to promote free expression in their respective countries. The
other is Myrna Reblando, the widow of Alejandro "Bong" Reblando, one of
the journalists murdered in the 2009 Maguindanao massacre.
About the speakers:
Md. Ashrafuzzaman, Bangladesh--Baseer Naveed, Pakistan--Myrna Reblando, the Philippines--Nilantha Ilangamuwa, Sri Lanka
