Sector professionals propose council to look into media disputes

DEAD SEA — Media professionals, lawmakers and legal experts on Sunday proposed the creation of a council to settle disputes between media outlets and any individuals or groups.

The proposal to create such a council was announced at the conclusion of a two-day meeting held at the Dead Sea under the title “Legal Media Dialogue” by the Centre for Defending the Freedom of Journalists.

Several committees were formed during the event to come up with proposals on how to enhance media freedoms and address relevant laws.

“One of the committees called for holding a series of meetings to discuss the vision, role and working mechanism of the proposed council,” said Nour Eddine Khamaiseh, the rapporteur of one of the panels.

“There was a consensus on the need for such a council, which will play a great role in speeding up the settlement of disputes and saving money as not all people can afford to file lawsuits against media institutions in case of violations,” Khamaiseh added.

Participants at the event called for a nationwide campaign to advocate for establishing the council.

They also called for holding a nationwide dialogue on how to speed up efforts to honour Jordan’s commitment to implementing international recommendations on freedom of the press.

Noting that the government has until 2017 to address the recommendations it accepted to enhance press freedoms, MP Rula Hroub stressed the need to hold dialogue involving all stakeholders.

In 2009, countries at the UN Universal Periodic Review of the Kingdom’s human rights record issued one recommendation on improving media freedoms in Jordan.

In 2013, they issued 18 such recommendations, of which the government accepted 15 and voiced reservations over three.

Some of the recommendations the government accepted include cancelling or amending all articles in the Penal Code that impose “blatantly unfair” restrictions on freedom of expression as well as amending the Press and Publications Law to ensure the full protection of freedom of speech.

At the conclusion of the event, participants called for training media personnel to enhance their performance in line with high internationals standards.