Ramallah – 24th March 2014: the Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms (MADA) concluded its 9th Information session for media students at Palestinian Universities, which aimed to promote freedom of expression and opinion and to introduce the upcoming journalists with MADA’s new project that is funded by the European Union “Defending freedom of expression through a healthy legal environment” and its goals and activities, which will be implanted during 2014 and 2015. 

 
The Information sessions were held at the following Palestinian Universities: Alnajah Uni, Alquds Uni, Hebron Uni, Palestine Ahlya Uni, Arab American Uni, Alaqsa Uni, Alislamya Uni, Alazhar Uni, and Modern University College.

 
MADA’s team presented an explanation of the project goals and activities, which MADA began implementing since the beginning of this year; they also gave an explanation of the center's four programs: monitoring violations of media freedoms, legal defense and aid for journalists, promoting freedom of opinion and expression in the Palestinian society, and the development of the media in Palestine.

 
The sessions, which benefited about 270 students, included in-depth discussions about the concept of freedom of opinion and expression and the status of media freedoms in Palestine. Where students interacted during the session and they inquired about some matters relating to the nature of the violations monitored by MADA, and about their duties and rights as future journalists in accordance with the related Palestinian laws to media. Students also expressed their interest in the idea of the project, which aims to contribute to the creation of a healthy legal environment in order to achieve a quantum leap in the defense and promotion of freedom of expression through the cooperation with all stakeholders.