Sixteen journalists from Iligan City, Lanao del Norte, and Lanao del Sur participated in a media orientation on International Humanitarian Law, organized by the International Committee of the Red Cross, to deepen their understanding of IHL and its relevance to conflict reporting. (Photo: ADD/PIA-10/Lanao del Norte)
ILIGAN CITY (PIA) — To strengthen their understanding of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and enhance their safety in conflict reporting, sixteen journalists from Iligan City, Lanao del Norte, and Lanao del Sur participated in a specialized media orientation organized by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
The orientation aimed to enhance journalists’ understanding of IHL. It focused on the legal protections for civilians, combatants, and media practitioners covering armed conflicts. It highlighted the media’s role in reporting humanitarian issues and increasing public awareness of IHL principles.
Rim Hajji, ICRC Cotabato Head of Sub-Site, emphasized the importance of providing journalists with knowledge about IHL and their rights in conflict reporting.
“It was very important for us to have the media from Iligan and the Lanao area to better understand how International Humanitarian Law applies to the work they do, how IHL protects them, and the importance when they cover what happens in the area of responsibility, that they are really aware of the role that the ICRC plays, and that they are aware of the laws that are the basis of the job they are doing,” she said.
Hajji noted that the ICRC has held similar sessions in Butuan and Zamboanga, involving local media outlets, and plans to continue organizing such activities. The ICRC promotes IHL across various sectors, including the military, police, and non-state armed groups, and educates communities on the protection of civilians, medical personnel, and civilian infrastructure.
Merlyn Manos, President of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines-Iligan Chapter, thanked the facilitators and participants for contributing to the discussions on IHL. She emphasized the media’s role in reporting on armed conflict with accuracy and sensitivity.
“Through today’s discussions, we have deepened our understanding of IHL, its principles, and how it applies to real-world situations. More importantly, we have recognized how the media and the ICRC can work together to ensure that the stories of those impacted by conflict are told with accuracy, empathy, and responsibility,” she said.
Meanwhile, veteran journalist Richel Umel, with 46 years of experience, underscored the importance of IHL in conflict coverage.
“Dako kaayo ni’g ikatabang sa mga journalist. Dili man ta lawyer, pero kinahanglan masayod ta sa mga pamalaod kay basin unknowingly mag-cover ta unya makalapas ta sa mga policies ug balaod, labi na kung dunay armed conflict,” he stated.
(This is valuable for journalists. We’re not lawyers, but it’s essential to understand the laws to avoid inadvertently violating policies and regulations, especially during armed conflict.)
Reflecting on his coverage of major conflicts, including the 2000 Kauswagan war, the 2013 Zamboanga siege, and the 2017 Marawi siege, Umel stressed the importance of mental health management in conflict reporting. He also emphasized the importance of safety, urging journalists to prioritize their health and well-being by carrying safety gear and knowing basic life support.
During the orientation, journalists learned about the ICRC’s mission, mandate, and principles, and its humanitarian work in the Philippines, particularly in Cotabato and the Lanao provinces. Sessions also covered IHL principles, civilian protection, the conduct of hostilities, and the rights of missing persons and displaced individuals.
Additional discussions focused on the protection of journalists under IHL, the implementation of IHL in the Philippines, domestic IHL laws, and the Emblem Law, with special attention to children affected by armed conflict. A session revisited the Marawi conflict eight years later, exploring story ideas. The Philippine Red Cross-Iligan also conducted a basic first aid lecture and simulations covering both man-made and natural disasters. (LELA/PIA-10/Lanao del Norte)
