UST JOURNALISM alumna Lian Buan is set to take on the Philippines researcher post at Human Rights Watch, a New York-based organization that investigates and reports on rights conditions worldwide.
Buan’s appointment will soon be formally announced, Rights Reports Philippines said in a Facebook post on Wednesday, May 6.
The UST Journalism graduate, who is a senior investigative reporter at Rappler, is reported to be the second Filipino to hold the position, following journalist Carlos Conde.
Researchers at Human Rights Watch write reports and public statements on human rights issues in different countries.
As a country researcher, Buan will be tasked with documenting and analyzing human rights conditions in the Philippines.
These reports may be used by governments, international and non-government organizations for policy discussions and accountability efforts.
Prior to her appointment, Buan gained recognition at Rappler, where she has worked as a senior investigative reporter since 2017.
She covered stories involving the justice system, government accountability and human rights issues in the country.
This has spanned years, from Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs and alleged extrajudicial killings under his administration to the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) investigation into the former president.
Buan also gained experience in broadcast media as an associate producer at GMA Network, working with multi-awarded broadcaster Jessica Soho.
She was recently named runner-up for the 2026 Elizabeth Neuffer Fellowship by the International Women’s Media Foundation. The fellowship honors women journalists worldwide who report on human rights and social justice issues.
Buan earned her bachelor’s degree in Journalism at UST in 2010, before which she served as an editorial board member of media entity TomasinoWeb and sports editor of the UST Journalism Students newsletter.
She later pursued her Master of Laws in Human Rights at Birkbeck School of Law at London from 2022 to 2023.
Inaugurated in 1978, Human Rights Watch is a non-profit, non-governmental organization that aims to end discrimination, repression and rights abuses across the world. F
