Ramallah – 20th July 2024. MADA’s General Assembly held its annual meeting last Wednesday, 17th July, at the Center’s headquarters in the city of Ramallah, where it discussed and approved the administrative and financial reports for the year 2023.
The meeting was chaired by DR. GHAZI HANANIA, Chairman of the Board of Directors, who emphasized the growing role of the Center at the local and international levels, despite the difficult circumstances that have befallen media freedoms, in particular, and the Palestinian people, in general, since the start of the war on Gaza Strip last October. It has attained great achievements over the past years, and SHERINE AL-KHATIB, the Acting Director-General, reviewed the highlights of the administrative report, while the Financial Officer reviewed the Financial Report for the year 2023, explaining to the members the financial situation of the Center at the present time compared to the past.
The administrative report indicated that “MADA” Center continues to perform its pioneering role in defending media freedom and the freedom of opinion and expression in Palestine, contributing to media development, and its efforts to create a legal environment conducive to media work and freedom of expression, through its programs and activities at various levels. During the past year, the Center implemented many qualitative activities and events at the local and international levels through three projects funded by various parties, the most important of which was the launch of Press Freedom Index V, which is considered the first of its kind in Palestine.
During the year 2023, MADA held many meetings with a number of international bodies, such as the European Union, a number of consulates and international organizations, in addition to its participation in the Global Forum for Media Development Conference of the GFMD Foundation, one of MADA’s key partners. It further held a meeting with the director of communication and companies in the Middle East and North Africa from TikTok, to be part of changing the content policy.
MADA issued twelve (12) monthly reports during the year 2023 on violations against journalists, in addition to the annual and semi-annual reports. It also continued its efforts in defending media freedoms through the legal unit that works to provide protection and legal advice to journalists.
The General Assembly approved the financial and administrative reports after discussing them, and recommended to the Board of Directors to pay greater attention to MADA’s activities in Gaza Strip, given the urgent need for journalists in the sector, whether for activities and training courses, in-kind assistance, or psychological assistance, which has become part of MADA’s work since the beginning of this year.
It is noteworthy that since its establishment, MADA has held its General Assembly meetings on a regular annual basis, with twenty-five (25) members who have paid their financial obligations, and its Board of Directors is elected every two years, as last year witnessed the election of the current board of directors.
