The Media Association for Peace (MAP) issued the recommendations of its fourth annual Media, Peace and Human Rights Annual Regional Conference, organized on 29 and 30 November, at Lancaster Plaza hotel in Raoucheh (Beirut), in partnership with Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS) - Rule of Law Program in the Middle East and North Africa, in collaboration with the UN Information Centre (UNIC) in Beirut, with the participation of 18 speakers from Egypt, Tunisia, Yemen, Bahrain, Iraq and Lebanon, and in the presence of activists, academics, human rights advocates and students.
The conference focused, in its four panels, on the role of the media in combating corruption and promoting civil peace, freedom of expression and democracy in Lebanon and the Middle East and North Africa.
MAP President and Executive Director Vanessa Bassil said that through this conference, “we renew our commitment to creating a free space for discussion and exchange of ideas and opinions, and to finding joint solutions to the obstacles affecting the rights of every human being.”
She stressed on holding this conference despite the country's dire socio-economic, health and livelihood conditions, saying: “We insisted on confronting reality and making additional efforts to carry out our annual initiative, out of our belief in the importance of dialogue and openness, and in an effort to preserve Lebanon's position as a beacon of thought, culture and freedoms.”
Bremer
The Director of KAS Rule of Law Programme in the MENA Region Philipp Bremer tackled the importance of strengthening the rule of law in Lebanon and the MENA region. The expert also highlighted the vital role of the fourth power [the press] and deplored the harassments, intimidations, and arbitrary detentions that the media personnel are subject to. “They are risking their lives – simply for informing the public and seeking the truth. The media needs to be free,” Bremer said.
Recommendations of Panel I: “Media, Peace and Security: The Role of the Media in Crises and Violent Incidents.”
- The media should work on building a “bridge of trust” with the public.
- Developing new documentation and communication methods, and getting rid of traditional methods, especially amid ongoing competition between traditional media and social media.
- Supporting media legislation.
- Inciting journalists to focus on finding solutions.
- Creating a space that allows media and journalism students to access information in an independent manner and fostering a workplace with a nurturing environment by creating for example a co-working space.
- Strengthening the work of civil society in advocacy and in demanding the rights of journalists, media professionals, and all communities within the society.
- Providing training by the Ministry of Information for well-experienced journalists and for new graduates to enhance their skills and present their work in the best way.
- Amending media laws in the Arab region by abolishing prison sentences for journalists.
- Allowing publishing newspapers in Arab countries and granting licenses to satellite channels with acceptable capabilities to enable those who wish to work in this sector.
- Granting opportunities for young people wishing to work in media and abolish all laws that allow the restriction of licenses and the prohibition of creating media outlets, or that penalize or fine media outlets/personnel in the Arab region.
- Journalists must have constructive critical thinking, which is considered as a real advantage, whereas media outlets must encourage critical thinking because it helps and develops their work further, and highlights bad practices.
Recommendations of Panel II - “Media, Peace and the Rule of Law: Media’s role in Fighting Corruption and Fostering Accountability”
- International organizations, with a focus on media development, must strengthen their support to independent media and NGOs and create independent media platforms representing the whole of society.
- Press unions should not only work on issuing statements, but on raising awareness and providing guidance on how to refine speeches that serve the interests and rights of citizens.
- Working on implementing Lebanese laws which are deemed “good” to some extent. Citizens must pursue concerned authorities and hold them accountable.
- Journalists should raise awareness through all media and social media platforms. The importance of investigative journalism and the role of journalists in revealing the truth and uncovering corruption should be highlighted in curriculums, which would facilitate journalists’ mission.
- Boosting dialogue and cooperation between alternative media platforms on the one hand, and cooperation between traditional media and emerging media platforms on the other hand is a must.
- Independent journalists and media professionals should be leaders in their institutions as agents of change.
- Enhancing the work of media institutions and positive competition among them, in order to present solutions and combatting corruption continually, by developing innovative multimedia products. Heads of media outlets shouldn’t be businessmen. They should come from the world of media or journalism.
Recommendations of Panel III - “Media, Peace and Liberties: Press Freedom & the Safety of Journalists”
- Not suppressing the freedoms of journalists and photographers and torturing them, but rather fighting to defend their rights, ensuring the right to access information, and working to preserve public freedoms.
- Not infringing on the rights of citizens and not crossing the red lines with journalists by state agencies. The journalist must verify the information before publishing it and should not depend on security services.
- It is necessary to believe in the defense of human rights as a whole, and the freedom of the press is part of it. All rights are inter-connected and without them a democratic state cannot be built, therefore a democratic state cannot be built without the fourth power.
- The freedom of opinion and expression, especially the freedom of the press, must be guaranteed to all, and any dispute must be resolved through the judiciary only.
- More work should be done with regards to training activists, journalists and citizens on digital security, so that it becomes a culture.
Recommendations of Panel IV – “Media, Peace and Democracy: Reporting on Elections & Enhancing Civil and Political Rights”
-The media must carry out awareness-raising campaigns, focusing on the importance of democracy and stability and the participation in electoral processes. The media should operate in an impartial and transparent manner to gain public trust.
- The media should raise awareness about the importance of voting in elections, as it is not only a right but a duty for every citizen to change the country's current situation.
