January 7, 2025

On the sidelines of the 17th ARIJ Annual Forum, titled “Journalism Unbound” held from December 6 to 8, 2024, ARIJ organized the “Media Defence Litigation Surgery” workshop, funded by Media Defence. The workshop brought together eight lawyers (38% female) from eight Arab countries: Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Morocco, Palestine, Syria, Tunisia, and Yemen.

The two-day in-person workshop, lasting more than 6 hours, was led by Pádraig Hughes, Legal Director at Media Defence, Carlos Gaio, CEO of the same organization, and Jordanian lawyer Khalid Khlaifat. The in-person training focused on essential legal and media topics, aiming to promote freedom of expression and protect journalists. It emphasized the importance of balancing press freedom with adherence to legal frameworks and highlighted the role of the international community in safeguarding journalists and ensuring a safe working environment.

The workshop also addressed digital rights, emphasizing the importance of protecting privacy and journalists’ sources in light of technological advancements, as well as the need to comply with data protection laws. It underscored the role of international organizations like Media Defence in supporting journalists through legal assistance and advocacy.

The trainees reviewed General Comment No. 34 of the Human Rights Committee on freedom of expression in both traditional and digital media. The training also examined data protection laws in the participating countries, emphasizing the balance between press freedom and privacy protection as essential principles of responsible and safe media practices.

It is worth mentioning that for the first time, Media Defence has presented its modules translated into Arabic, and it will be announced through ARIJ once available in 2025 for all lawyers specializing in media and freedom of expression issues in the region