The project's goal is to increase journalists' awareness of their rights and to push for the adoption of laws protecting access to information.
(MADA/IFEX) – Ramallah, 21 November 2011 – The Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms (MADA) and the Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF) signed a partnership agreement for an upcoming project about access to information rights in Palestine.
The project aims to increase awareness among journalists of the principles of the right to access to information and to push towards the adoption of ratified legislation protecting access to information in Palestinian law. This will be achieved through consultation with a number of journalists and local and international legal experts to ensure the law is compatible with international standards.
The agreement was signed by DCAF Palestine office director Roland Friedrich and MADA Chairman Dr. Ghazi Hanania.
MADA General Director Mousa Rimawi welcomed the cooperation with DCAF, stating that the adoption of access to information laws is a priority in enhancing freedom of expression in the Palestinian territories, and would allow citizens and journalists to freely access information they require. Rimawi also expressed his hope that the adoption of such laws would contribute to the development of investigative journalism in Palestine.
DCAF deputy head of office in Palestine, Nicolas Masson, added that access to information is the right of every citizen, particularly information pertaining to operations conducted by security organizations. The adoption of a law in accordance with international standards would contribute to enhancing the transparency and control of the security sector in Palestine.
This new partnership agreement adds to an existing joint venture between DCAF and MADA following the establishment of “Marsad”, a Palestinian security sector observatory website dedicated to shedding light on the security sector’s governance and reform by gathering relevant news items, analyses and reports. See http://www.marsad.info .
