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Workshop aimed for
monitoring the status of freedom of expression and hold campaigns in Arab Countries
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29/1/2006
The workshop started in (26/2/2005) in Cairo, held by the Centre of Distributing statements and articles of the International Network for Exchanging Information concerned with freedom of opinion and expression, with the cooperation of the Egyptian Organization for Human Rights (EOHR), The Arab Observatory for Freedom of Press and the Observatory of Freedom of Press, Creativity and Publication had finished its sessions.
The workshop entitled 'An observatory for freedom of opinion and expression status, campaign organization and developing the field of communication and media', the workshop's participants were human right activists from different Arab and Foreign countries such as (Egypt, Syria, Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Tunis, Lebanon, Yemen, Poland and Britain), and it was sponsored by Open Society Association (OSA); [Media Network Program].
The training session witnessed two sections: both theoretical and practical. The theoretical determines forms of violations to freedom of opinion and expression in Middle East and North Africa regions and a background on developing instruments in the field of communication and media.
*Here are samples of violations of freedom of opinion and expression witnessed in some Arab countries:
1- Assaults against journalists, writers and ones who work in human rights' field, adding to murder crimes, kidnapping and arrests.
2- Dozens of laws in some Arab countries which curb freedom of opinion and expression.
3- All sorts of Observatory on media articles and Internet network in Arab countries.
On the other hand, participants in the workshop declared their opinion on Internet communication disadvantages and drawbacks, virus attacks and the tools to stop any insecure programs affect private internet users and also the public network ….etc.
While the practical section determines the capability to organize campaigns which help the spread of freedom of expression and opinion in Arab countries, and also documenting the violated cases curbed by censorship.
Accordingly, some Arab organizations work in human rights issues declared their campaigns, whether via dealing with regional and international organizations, or fact-finding missions,
these organizations are: [Egyptian Organization for Human Rights (Egypt), the Observatory for Freedom of Press, Expression and Creativity (Tunisia), 'Maharat' and 'Samir Qosir' Associations (Lebanon), Arab Organization for Freedom of Press (Kuwait) and Arab Organization for Freedom of Press (Yemen)].
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