Ramallah – The Civil Coalition for the Protection of Freedom of Expression and Digital Rights in the Occupied State Palestine was launched on Wednesday. The Coalition brings together 13 Palestinian organisations and networks operating in the areas of the media and defence of rights and freedoms.
The founding body includes the Palestinian Centre for Development and Media Freedoms (MADA); Civil Commission for the independence of Judiciary and Rule of Law (ISTIQLAL); Human Rights and Democracy Media Centre (SHAMS); Palestinian Youth Association for Leadership and Rights Activation (PYALARA); Wattan Media Network; Ma’an News Agency; Nisaa FM; Palestinian Initiative for the Promotion of Global Dialogue and Democracy (MIFTAH); Coalition for Accountability and Integrity (AMAN); Palestinian Human Rights Organisations Council (PHROC); Palestinian NGOs Network (PNGO); Independent Commission for Human Rights (ICHR); and Palestine Bar Association (PBA).
Attended by media and civil society representatives, a press conference included presentations by Mousa al-Rimawi, Director General of MADA; Majid Sawalhah, ICHR Director of Public Relations and Media; Fadi Abbas, PBA member; and Shatha Odeh, PNGO Board Director.
Speakers stressed the importance of the Coalition in defending media and digital freedoms, highlighting that membership on the Coalition is open to relevant civil society organisations.
The Coalition has been established to emphasise the basic principles of freedom of the press, right to freedom of expression, and protection of digital rights in line with the Palestinian Basic Law as well as international standards and conventions, to which the State of Palestine acceded in late 2014.
The Coalition will dedicate itself to achieve four main goals: (1) protection of the right to freedom of expression, digital rights, and freedom of the press; (2) creating a legislative environment in support of the media and digital rights; (3) protection of journalists’ achievements and free exercise of the right to freedom of expression; and (4) contribution to the international effort of defending freedom of expression through cooperation with relevant United Nations and international organisations.
In the press conference, the founding statement was read out:
Founding Statement of the Civil Coalition for Protection of Freedom of Expression and Digital Rights in Palestine
In the State of Palestine, freedom of expression and digital rights is impaired by significant challenges and violations by several actors. Most notably, the Israeli occupation is the principal and most dangerous violator, which targets journalists, media outlets and Palestinian content on social media networks to silence and prevent reporting crimes against our people.
In addition, some social media platforms, particularly Facebook, impinge on the right to freedom of expression. Over the past few years, these have closed or deleted significant content posted by Palestinian journalists and media institutions.
Although Articles 19 and 27 of the Palestinian Basic Law safeguard freedom of expression, abuses of journalists’ activity and right to freedom of expression and content on social media networks are also committed by several Palestinian authorities.
Despite the fact that Palestine has signed a set of international conventions enshrining the right from freedom of expression, freedoms of expression and of the press have continued to face real challenges at legislative, policy and practical levels. These have affected institutions and individuals in the areas of information and publication.
We stress that ongoing challenges and violations will limit the ability of journalists and activists to take part effectively in reporting Israeli immoral and illegal practices. They will also reduce the capacity of the media to play its role as the fourth estate. The media is responsible for oversight, accountability, creation of public opinion on the values of participation and democratic structure of our prospective state, which we all seek to establish on grounds of the norms of good governance.
The Coalition has been established to emphasise the basic principles of freedom of the press, right to freedom of expression, and protection of digital rights in line with the Palestinian Basic Law as well as international standards and conventions, to which the State of Palestine acceded in late 2014.
The Civil Coalition aims at protecting freedom of expression, digital rights and freedom of the press by:
Proceeding from our belief in the importance of concerting all efforts to reverse the decline in freedom of expression, we, the undersigned, announce the launch of the Civil Coalition for Protection of Freedom of Expression and Digital Rights in the Occupied State Palestine. Membership on the Coalition is open to relevant civil society organisations.
Founding body of the Civil Coalition for Protection of Freedom of Expression and Digital Rights:
Our freedom as Palestinians depends on freedom of expression
Freedom of expression Matters to Us All
