Project Objectives

The envisaged programme aims to strengthen the legal and regulatory framework to protect media freedom and independence in Iraq by engaging stakeholders in a broad-based media law working group to adopt an action plan and reach consensus on two draft laws. The project also seeks to build the capacity of media professionals to campaign for freedom of info rmation and media independence by holding a workshop introducing journalists to the concept of freedom of info rmation and initiating a campaign for the adoption of freedom of info rmation legislation. The final goal of the project is to ensure a more diverse and gender-sensitive media and media reporting by training journalists to report on diversity and by producing a report on freedom of expression with a particular focus on issues facing women and minority groups.

The series of workshops involving the Article 19's Media Law Working Group will strengthen advocacy for reform of the legal framework for freedom of expression in Iraq and raise awareness among key Iraqi decision makers about the importance of, and appropriate legal framework for, freedom of expression. The broad-based MLWG, which will bring together government officials, MPs, the media and relevant NGOs, will create a durable framework for regular interaction between these stakeholders, in order to address the pervasive sense of powerlessness amongst civil society to positively influence legislation and government policy in the area of freedom of the media and to initiate a long-term process of dialogue and cooperative reform.

Part two of the project will build the capacity of media professionals to campaign for the adoption of freedom of info rmation legislation and increase awareness on freedom of info rmation and its importance for investigative journalism. This segment of the project also includes a sub-project on ‘Reporting Diversity' which will increase awareness and appreciation of a more diverse and gender-sensitive media. The project will improve the professional skills of participants to radio packagees and other content with a diversity angle and will culminate in the production and distribution of best-practice model content in diversity journalism in the form of radio magazine.

The last element of the project features ongoing monitoring and campaigning against freedom of expression violations will serve to increase understanding and awareness of Freedom of expression issues in Iraq . This will culminate in the publication of a freedom of expression report which will shed light on the situation of freedom of expression in Iraq .

The project focuses on strengthening the legal and regulatory framework to protect media freedom and independence in Iraq, building the capacity of media professionals and civil society to campaign for freedom of expression, freedom of info rmation and media independence, and ensuring a more diverse and gender-sensitive media. Its main implementer is London-based ARTICLE 19 whose Law Working Group (MLWG) has been reviewing existing freedom of expression and media-related legislation, in aim to provide the impetus that is currently lacking towards adoption of legislation that meets international standards. The MLWG will bring together parliamentarians, government representatives, senior civil servants, media and human rights law experts, media representatives, representatives from the NCMC and IMN and other stakeholders to work pragmatically and cooperatively towards the formulation of draft legislation with a view to having it introduced into parliament.

In line with the project's objective of encouraging diversity, and particularly the representation of women's voices, MDI has curried out a ten-day project on reporting diversity. The project i ncludes an intensive three-day workshop and a seven-day production segment. In the second phase, participants carried out hands-on reporting fieldwork, working in pairs under the guidance of their international and local trainers to gain practical experience in reporting on various prominent diversity issues relevant to the current Iraqi context. The produced radio magazine will be distributed widely through national, regional and international radio stations.

During workshops, where possible, Iraqi trainers, speakers and facilitators will be used and priority will be given to Iraqi institutions to implement project training activities in order to capitalise on local knowledge. All strands of the project will seek to engage vulnerable communities and women by ensuring their representation at workshops. The Reporting Diversity project will specifically target these groups.

Project Activities

The envisaged outcome of the MLWG series of activities and the freedom of info rmation course and the ensuing campaigns is better advocacy for the introduction of media law reforms and freedom of info rmation legislation into parliament, with a view to furthering the media's independence and its role as a fourth estate. This will include consensus among a range of key stakeholders on specific draft legislation for reform. The micro-project's outcome will encourage a more diverse and gender-sensitive media and by doing so will empower vulnerable groups and increase their access to the media and their issues and concerns would be more widely represented. The publication on freedom of expression in Iraq in addition to the ongoing monitoring will help raise awareness of the status of freedom of expression and shed light on violations of this fundamental right.

With the goal of ensuring a gender and diversity sensitive media, MDI will carry out a Team Reporting Project for 8 journalists (mixed group of 4 male and 4 female journalists, as ethnically and religiously diverse as possible). This ten-day micro-project includes an intensive three-day workshop on ‘reporting diversity' and a seven-day production segment. In the production phase participants carry out hands-on reporting fieldwork, working in pairs under the guidance of their international and local trainers to gain practical experience in reporting on various prominent diversity issues relevant to the current Iraqi context. A 30-mins radio magazine on diversity issues has been planned.

In collaboration with local partner organisations, the implementer will monitor incidences of violations against women's and minority groups' rights to freedom of expression. The monitoring and campaigning outputs include a series of press releases and letters to officials in response to threats or violations of freedom of expression. The ongoing monitoring will culminate in a publication of freedom of expression in Iraq in 2007.