The International Press Institute has called on the Philippine government to lift its travel ban on journalist Maria Ressa to allow her to fly to Norway to receive this year's Nobel Peace Prize.
The institute, in a recent statement, rejected the Philippines' argument that Ressa is a "flight risk" with several court charges against her, calling the cases "an attack on press freedom" and saying she had been respectful of the judicial process despite the unfairness of the charges.
Ressa is CEO of Rappler, a digital media company for investigative journalism in the Philippines known for its critical coverage of President Rodrigo Duterte's government. She has been invited to attend the award ceremony in Oslo on Dec. 10.