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very May 3, we are reminded of the importance of press freedom for the enjoyment of human rights. Press freedom constitutes one of the cornerstones of a democratic society as it can ensure the government’s transparency and accountability.

World Press Freedom Day is also a reminder to governments around the world on the need to fulfill their commitment to the principles of press freedom. Unfortunately, the battle for press freedom is still the reality of our daily life in Southeast Asia.

In the past three years, the region showed an increasing number of journalists killed, attacks on the media and growing concerns over disinformation. As journalists work to uncover abuse of power, shed light on corruption and question opinions, they often face the specific risk of intimidation and violence.

As Indonesia’s representative to the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR), I have often received reports concerning the harassment and intimidation against journalists, efforts to criminalize them and labeling them as terrorists and enemy of the state, as well as the closure of independent media. Some countries in the region have also passed new laws to limit online speech and make it harder to report.

In the context of COVID-19, the state of press freedom is far from better. The AICHR Indonesia’s daily monitoring on human rights in ASEAN during the pandemic has showed that COVID-19 has been used as a pretext to censor the press and suppress opponents; websites and social media accounts have been blocked on the grounds of circulating “fake news”.

In the name of containing the pandemic, some countries have applied state emergency laws, including provisions that allow surveillance, media control and restrictions on freedom of assembly. Criminal defamation laws have also been used to crack down on criticism of the government’s response on COVID-19. In some countries with a closed media environment and political systems, people have been left uncertain about the response and how to protect themselves from being infected.

This is a counterproductive approach and must be changed. In the time of crisis, we need press freedom, internet access and people participation more than before. Journalists and the media should be able to report on the pandemic, including coverage that is critical of government responses without censorship. Press freedom can help to save lives.

Besides COVID-19, press freedom has been challenged by a framework of disinformation and misinformation. The consequences of this information disorder are not only discrediting journalism but eventually would create political polarisation in society and reduce their ability to uphold values of humanity, pluralism, justice and equality.

Diverse, free and independent media are the key to realizing freedom of opinion and expression as protected by Article 23 of the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration (AHRD). This right includes freedom to express and impart information in whatever form regardless of media.

Any restriction that prevents the flow of information offline or online must be in line with permissible limitations as set out in international human rights law: legality, legitimacy, necessity and proportionality.

In 2016 during the ASEAN Summit Conference in Kuala Lumpur, there was an idea to establish a regional media body which could play a central role as a clearinghouse for news reports generated by the agencies. One purpose was to help change narratives of Southeast Asia and making it more localized instead of relying on international media for stories.

Indonesian senior journalist Bambang Harymurti has said ASEAN needs a regional body that can act as a human rights institution with the power to protect press freedom, and among others, facilitate the establishment of media code of ethics and supervise its enforcement, monitor the media freedom dynamics and to recommend measures to improve it and assist efforts to increase media accountability and open journalism.

He proposed this idea in the regional dialogue on freedom of opinion and expression that was organized by AICHR in December 2019 in Bali.

I support Bambang’s idea. Having a regional body for media is crucial to improve press freedom in ASEAN. We need to ensure an environment that journalists in the region can perform their work without fear and favor.

Participants in that regional dialogue also suggested AICHR establish a special rapporteur mechanism to monitor state compliance in respecting, protecting and fulfilling freedom of opinion and expression in the ASEAN region.

State efforts to protect journalists should integrate gender perspectives and include the support for citizen journalists, bloggers, social media activists, human rights defenders and those who use new media to reach a mass audience. It is also important to address impunity for crimes against journalists and other media.

Based on civil society’s recommendation, AICHR is working on a common language for freedom of opinion and expression, as part of human rights cooperation in ASEAN and as intended by the AHRD.

The goals of building ASEAN community that is politically cohesive, economically integrated, socially responsible, as a rules-based and people-centered organization, will not be achieved without the guarantee of freedom of opinion and expression as well as the guarantee of press freedom.

The experiences of Indonesia in overcoming (and still fighting) momentous challenges in democracy and human rights for over twenty years reveal the fact that free, diverse and independent press and civic platforms are an essential component toward a just and open society.

Happy World Press Freedom Day!