Ramallah (17/06/2020) - Today, the Civil Coalition to Protect Freedom of Expression and Digital Rights was launched in the occupied state of Palestine, with the participation of 13 Palestinian institutions and networks working in the field of media and the defense of rights and freedoms.
The founding body of the coalition includes: the Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms "MADA", The Non-Governmental Institution for the Independence of the Judiciary and the Rule of Law "Istiklal", Human Rights and Democracy Media Center "Shams", Palestinian Youth Association for Leadership and Rights Activation “PYALARA”, Watan Media Network, Ma'an News Network, Nisaa FM Radio, The Palestinian Initiative for the Promotion of Global Dialogue and Democracy (Miftah), the Coalition for Integrity and Accountability “AMAN”, The Palestinian Human Rights Organizations Council, The Palestinian PNGO’s Network, The Independent Commission for Human Rights, and the Palestinian Bar Association.
During the conference, which was attended by a group of journalists and representatives of the media and civil society, namely: the Director General of the Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms "MADA” Mousa Rimawi, Director of Public Relations and Information at the Independent Commission for Human Rights, Majeed Sawalha, a member of the Palestinian Bar Association, Fadi Abbas, and Chairman of the Board of Directors at The Palestinian PNGO’s Network, Shatha Odeh.
The speakers stressed the importance of forming a coalition in defending media freedoms and digital rights, noting that the doors of the coalition are open for the joining of other civil and relevant institutions in this field.
Moreover, the speakers pointed out that the establishment of this coalition came to emphasize the basic principles of freedom of the media and press work and the principles of freedom of expression and the protection of digital rights, in accordance with the Palestinian Basic Law and international agreements, covenants and standards that the State of Palestine joined in late 2014.
The speakers said that the coalition will dedicate its efforts to work on four main goals: protecting freedom of opinion and expression and digital rights, journalistic work, providing a legislative environment in support of media work and digital rights, protecting journalistic work gains and exercising the right to express opinions freely, contributing to the international effort to defend freedom of expression, through cooperation with relevant international institutions.
It is worth mentioning that during the press conference, the founding statement was read and distributed.
Founding Statement
The Civil Coalition to Protect Freedom of Expression and Digital Rights
Freedom of expression and digital rights face great challenges and violations from several parties, especially the Israeli occupation, which is the main and most dangerous violator. The Israeli occupation targets the journalists, the media, and the Palestinian content on social media, in various forms and methods that aim to silence the Palestinian voice and narrative, in order to prevent it from spreading and exposing the Israeli crimes against Palestinians.
Some social media platforms, especially Facebook Company, violates the freedom of expression, by widely closing or deleting Palestinian content; whether it was published by journalists or media outlets, especially during the past few years.
Moreover, the violations against the journalists, freedom of opinion and expression, and content on social media are also practiced by several Palestinian bodies, although the Palestinian Basic Law guaranteed freedom of opinion and expression in Articles 19 and 27.
Freedom of opinion and expression and media freedoms are still facing real challenges at the Palestinian legislative and policy levels, and in practices affecting institutions and individuals working in the fields of expression and publishing, despite the fact that Palestine signed many international covenants and agreements that guarantee freedom of expression.
We affirm that the continuation of these challenges and these violations will limit the ability of the media and activists to participate actively in spreading the immoral and illegal practices of the occupation. Also, it will affect the media’s role as a fourth estate; it has the responsibilities of oversight and accountability, and creating a public opinion on the values of participation and democratic building of our future country, which we all work to build upon on the principles of good governance.
The establishment of this coalition comes to emphasize the basic principles of freedom of the media and press work, the principles of freedom of expression and the protection of digital rights, in accordance with the Palestinian Basic Law and the international agreements, covenants and standards that the State of Palestine joined in late 2014.
The Civil Coalition aims to protect the rights to freedom of opinion and expression, digital rights and freedom of the press, through:
1. Protecting freedom of opinion and expression, digital rights, and journalism.
2. Provide a supportive legislative environment for media work and digital rights.
3. Protecting the gains of journalism and exercising the right to express opinions freely.
4. Contribute to the international effort to defend freedom of expression, through cooperation with relevant international institutions.
We are today, out of our belief in the importance of unifying all efforts made to stop the decline in the spaces of freedom of opinion and expression, the signatories below announce the launch of the (Civil Coalition for the Protection of Freedom of Expression and Digital Rights), knowing that this coalition will be open to the inclusion of civil and civil institutions concerned in this the field.
The founding body of the Civil Coalition for the Protection of Freedom of Expression and Digital Rights:
- The Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms "MADA".
- The Non-Governmental Institution for the Independence of the Judiciary and the Rule of Law "Istiklal".
- Human Rights and Democracy Media Center "Shams".
- Palestinian Youth Association for Leadership and Rights Activation “PYALARA”.
- Watan Media Network.
- Ma'an News Network.
- Nisaa FM Radio.
- The Palestinian Initiative for the Promotion of Global Dialogue and Democracy (Miftah).
- The Coalition for Integrity and Accountability “AMAN”.
- The Palestinian Human Rights Organizations Council.
- The Palestinian PNGO’s Network.
- The Palestinian Bar Association.
- The Independent Commission for Human Rights (observer).
Our freedom as Palestinians is associated with the freedom of expression
Freedom of expression concerns us all
