Ramallah: The Palestinian center for Development and Media Freedoms (MADA) wrapped up a three days training workshop on freedom of expression. This training course was conducted in cooperation with the Palestinian Bar Association, and it comes in the framework of the project of defending freedom of expression and opinion through a healthy legal environment which is funded by the European Union. The center started implementing this project since the beginning of this year.
On the first day of the training, Mohammad Abu Arqoub (Trainer), presented both International and national concepts of freedom of expression, and it’s status in Palestine, as well as the negative impacts of the violations against freedom of expression on media and the development of the society. Arqoub also presented the right to access information law’s project, which will hopefully get enacted in Palestine soon.
On the second day, Raed Abdulahmid (Lawyer), presented related to the media laws in Palestine, as well as the legal and constitutional standards for freedom of expression and publishing. Abdulhamid also talked about the publications law and presented both, the highe information council and the Audio-Visual draft laws.
On the third day, Dr. Ahmad Braak presented the crimes in the Jordanian penal law related to: dispraise, slander, libel, violation of public decency and morals, violation of others' dignity. He also talked about the legal procedures according to penal law; the role of police, prosecution and court. At the end of the day some cases for practical issues related to freedom of expression were presented. The lawyers implemented a simulation practice for journalists courts, and they were practically trained how to defend them in courts.
At the end of the training MADA’s General director, Mr. Mousa Rimawi, and a delegate of Hussein Shabane (The Chairman of the Palestinian Bar Association), distributed the certificates to the trainers who participated in the workshop. It should be pointed that MADA will conduct similar training courses for other lawyers in different cities in the West Bank and Gaza.
