Gaza –The Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms (MADA) conducted a workshop for journalists working for different local media outlets on the topic of freedom of opinion and expression and media laws in Gaza. This workshop is part of a project funded by the UNESCO office in Ramallah.

First, Dr. Ahmad Hammad, MADA’s coordinator in Gaza, introduced MADA’s programs, i.e. monitoring violations against media freedoms, defending journalists through legal aid, and promoting freedom of opinion and expression and the development of free and professional media in Palestine.

Then Ms. Marjut Helminen, UNESCO project coordinator, spoke about the current and future status of the media in Finland, mentioning the media revival that the country is witnessing. Ms. Helminen also emphasized the upmost importance of developing a culture of media freedom as it is essential for the development of a country as a whole.

 

MADA’s legal consultant in Gaza, Mr. Karim Nashwan, talked about the right to access information, especially the concepts tackled by Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

 

He then presented the draft law prepared by MADA on this subject, which was handed over to the legal department of the Council of Ministers, and insisted on the importance of adopting this law in Palestine.

 

The participants were divided into groups to discuss different issues relative to the main concepts and terminologies of human rights and freedom of opinion and expression according to international standards.

 

At the end of the workshop, the participants praised the quality of the discussions which provided the opportunity to question the state of media freedoms.