FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION . .
An article from Yaffa News Network
The Assistant Secretary-General of the Arab League and Head of the Media and Communication Sector, Ambassador Ahmed Rashid Khattabi, stressed the need to ensure a pluralistic, independent, and credible media environment that contributes to enlightening public opinion, protecting rights and freedoms, and combating tendencies toward violence and hatred.
In press statements on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day, Ambassador Khattabi praised the provisions recently introduced to the Arab Media Code of Honor regarding the consolidation of pluralism and freedom of opinion, as well as the prohibition of publishing misleading rumors, especially during electoral processes.
He added that this international day, adopted by a UN General Assembly resolution in 1993 on the initiative of UNESCO, is an opportunity to acknowledge the valuable services of journalists in all their positions and professional affiliations, and to emphasize the facilitation of their work and their contributions to development and democratic practice, in line with the principles of relevant international conventions, starting with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
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Free flow of information, How is it important for a culture of peace?
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He also stressed that freedom of opinion is an inherent right, limited only by legal and ethical frameworks and vital national interests.
The Head of the Media and Communication Sector announced that the world will mark this UN day in 2026 under the slogan “Building a World of Peace,” highlighting the role of the media in promoting a culture of peace in a highly unstable geopolitical context marked by tensions and devastating wars, particularly in the Middle East, where innocent civilians are losing their lives, including journalists working to convey the truth under dangerous conditions.
Ambassador Khattabi also noted that social media platforms and artificial intelligence applications, while enhancing communication democratization, media performance, and innovation, also raise serious concerns due to the spread of online violence, discriminatory stereotypes, and fake content in the media space.
He emphasized the need to implement the strategy adopted by the Council of Arab Ministers of Information regarding the integration of media literacy into the educational curricula of member states.
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