RAMALLAH, Feb 14 (JMCC) - Seventeen Palestinian human rights and media groups established a forum for the defense of press freedoms Sunday, after what they said was a rise in violations.
The signatories said in a press statement that the coalition “would act to defend the freedom of expression and press in Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT) through a variety of activities.”
They added that the coalition “will coordinate with keen Palestinian parties to respect freedom of expression and the rule of law in the OPT.”
The coalition comprises Al-Haq, Al-Dameer, Marsad, the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights, the Palestine Center for Development and Media Freedoms (MADA), the Palestinian Institute for Media and Development, Ben Media, the Palestine News Network (PNN), the Women’s Affairs Center, the Media Development Center/Bir Zeit University, the Treatment & Rehabilitation Center for Victims of Torture, the Ramallah Center for Human Rights Studies, Hurriyyat, the Center for Media Freedom, the Creative Woman Center, the Sharek Forum and the Media Women’s Forum.
According to the signatories, “participation in the coalition is open for all Palestinian civil society institutions and key Palestinian figures.”
They added that the coalition was established “in light of the continued violations in the OPT by Israeli forces and Palestinian security services in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.”
Read the article at Arab News...