In 2017, the MSSF supported the work of the International Federation of Journalists Asia-Pacific’s human rights and safety program. Under the program, IFJ AP remained a prominent advocate in the region for press freedom, journalists’ rights and safety.

In March 2017, the IFJ AP launched the Byte Back Campaign: Fighting Online Harassment of Journalists calling for strong action to stop cyber-bullying and online harassment of women journalists. In May it launched the #JournosAgainstShutdowns campaign raising awareness for internet shutdowns as a press freedom issue.

The IFJ AP continued its campaign for Raimundos Oki and Lourenco Vincente Martins, who were charged with criminal defamation in Timor Leste. On June 2, in a win for press freedom, the charges against the pair were dismissed.

Under the IFJ Press Freedom in China project, the IFJ released its ninth annual China Press Freedom report that documents the state of press freedom in China, mapping media violations across the year, increased government control, surveillance and the challenging media environment.

MSSF continued to support the education of the children of slain journalists.

In Nepal, MSSF supports 23 children with two due to graduate from university at the end of the year.

In the Philippines, MSSF supports 68 students – 25 are the children of journalists killed in the 2009 Ampatuan Massacre.

At the end of the 2016-17 school year, five children will graduate from university with a range of qualifications including, computer science, financial management, engineering and teaching.

In Fiji, MSSF supports Jone Ketebaca, the son of Sitiveni Moce who died in 2015 after he succumbed to injuries sustained when he was attacked by soldiers in 2007.