*Successful workshop held in Jenin to discuss Palestinian media freedoms* The Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms (MADA) held a successful training workshop at the weekend in Jenincity south of West Bank, looking at the judicial system and the press in Palestine, supported by the Foundation for the Future. The Jenin two days training […]
*Successful workshop held in Jenin to discuss Palestinian media freedoms*
The Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms (MADA) held a
successful training workshop at the weekend in Jenincity south of West
Bank, looking at the judicial system and the press in Palestine, supported
by the Foundation for the Future.
The Jenin two days training workshop was one of four workshops organised
by MADA to-date this year. Tens of journalists and media students have
participated in these workshops so far, in key locations across the West
Bank, and Gaza strip.
Project coordinator, Ghazi Bani Odeh, explained the objectives of the
project and MADA’s role in the defence of media freedoms through
monitoring, documentation, the publication of reports and through the work
of the Centre’s Legal Unit in defending journalists. He particularly
outlined MADA’s annual report of media freedoms in the occupied Palestinian
territories.
Legal researchers Rashad Twam and Jihad Harb reviewed the international
conventions relating to freedom of expression and human rights and
Palestinian laws related to freedom of opinion and expression, especially
the Press and Publications Law and the Penal Code, as well as safeguards
guaranteeing freedom of the press and expression.
During the workshop, participants discussed crimes related to the work of
journalists, especially crimes of libel and defamation under the Penal Code
in force in the Palestinian territories, and protection mechanisms for
local and international journalists.
Participants also discussed a number of cases in which journalists were
prosecuted on account of their writings, the legal texts which were invoked
in these cases, and means of generating positive public pressure to promote
freedom of expression.
The two researchers stressed the importance of knowing legal procedures and
mechanisms of action as well as adherence to professional journalism, based
on accuracy and objectivity, as one of the safeguards that can help to
ensure journalists are not prosecuted.
The participants confirmed the need for such workshops, to help fill a gap
in their legal knowledge of laws in force.
They stressed the importance of bridging this gap through similar
activities.
*For more information: Palestinian Center For Development & Media Freedoms*
*Tel & Fax: 02-2976519*
