A group of Arab civil organizations, members of the Global Network Defending and Promoting  Freedom of Expression (IFEX) – including The Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedom “MADA” issued a statement  to clarify  their position of the formation of a special mechanism to support media freedom in the Arab region. 

 

 

The initiative, launched in October 2014 was led by the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) in collaboration with the Federation of Arab Journalists (FAJ) following a document issued by the consultative meeting held in November 2015 in Rabat, Morocco, concerning what it described as "the key issues associated with the establishment of the mechanism, structure and mandate".

 

This statement aimed to welcome all efforts to promote freedom of opinion and expression in the Arab region, including media freedom, although the signatory organizations have several significant observations, particularly, the lack of involvement of important and highly active human rights organizations, which have a history of achievements and accumulated experience operating in the Arab region, in these consultations,  this mechanism should not be part of the Arab League system due to the fact of their failure even  in issuing one  statement condemning of the severe  violations in the Arab Region.

 

They strongly stressed that the establishment of this regional mechanism in all respects and its implementation of actual work on the ground be independent of Arab governments” This means direct cooperation with other international mechanisms such as the United Nations system and the European Union to ensure the independence of the mechanism and its effectiveness on the ground”.

 

Moreover, they called for a meeting in late May 2016 “to work on the preparation of a new comprehensive document on this important regional mechanism, with the participation of all active human rights organizations in the Arab region and representatives of human rights mechanisms of the United Nations and the European Union, The document will include a precise definition and clear mandate for the mechanism, its duration and implementation plan, including the place and funding, as well as measures to ensure its independence and the best ways for it to operate effectively and successfully in the Arab region”.

 

Signatories of the Arab group at IFEX:

- Americans for Democracy and Human Rights in Bahrain

- Arabic Network for Human Rights Information

- Association for Freedom of Thought and Expression

- Gulf Center for Human Rights

- I’lam Association

- MADA- the Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms

- Maharat Foundation

- MARCH Association

- Social Media Exchange (SMEX)

- Vigilance Association for Democracy and Civil State

-Bahrain Center For Human Rights