MANILA, Philippines — A United Nations special rapporteur raised concern over the situation of Filipina human rights defenders, which he said include Sen. Leila de Lima, former Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno and Rappler CEO Maria Ressa. In a 20-page report submitted to the 40th session of the UN Human Rights Council from February 25 to March 22, Michel Forst, special rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, reviewed the situation of women human rights defenders in the country. De Lima, Sereno and Ressa were all mentioned in the report's subsection on women human rights defenders in prominent and leadership positions. Last December, Forst called on the Philippine government to end all forms of violations against human rights defenders. "The government should review and desist from employing counter-insurgency measures which result in extra-judicial killings, enforced disappearances, and human rights violations," he said.

Source: Philippine Star February 18, 2019 09:26 UTC