Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms (MADA)

Press release

MADA center and Foundation for the Future  sign a cooperation agreement
on the legal defense of journalists

2 May 2010

Amman, Ramallah - the Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms (MADA) and the Foundation for Future signed a cooperation agreement on 1 May 2010, in which the Foundation for the Future will provide support to MADA program to defend journalists in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. The agreement was signed by the president of Foundation for the Future Mrs. Nabila Hamza and Dr. Ghazi Hanania, Chairman
of MADA center.

The agreement includes supporting activities related to the legal aspect of defending journalists such as legal consultation and presentation in courts. A legal guide for journalists will be produced and workshops will be organized to raise awareness on Human Rights in General and Freedom of Expression in particular.

The representative of MADA Center expressed their thanks to the foundation’s support which will contribute to a significant quality leap in its activities aiming to defend the Palestinian journalists whose rights of freedom and expression are subject to serious violations.

The Foundation stressed on the importance of the role of media saying that a free, independent and responsible media is one of the main pillars of democracy in the world, and that media is given considerable attention by the Foundation through providing support to civil society organizations working in this field, with the aim of enhancing free, independent and responsible media.

Officials from the two sides expressed hope that the new program will be the beginning of a joint and a continuous cooperation to serve their common objectives in enhancing the freedom of opinion and expression in the Palestinian Occupied Territories. This event represents a special occasion as it coincides with the approaching International Press Freedom Day on the third of May.
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Contact:
Riham Abu Aita
Public Relation Officer
Ramallah
info@madacenter.org
madapalestine@yahoo.com
www.madacenter.org
Tel. & Fax: 00970 2 2976519