Philippines - January 2023

A Philippine tax court on 18 January acquitted Nobel Laureate and high-profile journalist Maria Ressa of four tax evasion charges, marking the end of a case that began in 2018 and which was widely believed to be politically motivated. A UN expert on freedom of expression said the acquittal signals a "victory for media freedom as well as justice." Ressa and Rappler still face three other charges, including one for cyber libel, which top UN officials and human rights advocates have urged authorities to drop.

Sources: OHCHR, The Guardian, Reuters, Amnesty International