A Media Alliance Formed In Tripoli To Defend Media Freedom

Nine non-governmental organizations issued a statement in 24 January 2022 in Tripoli , announcing the establishment of an alliance to defend media freedom and work together towards making the necessary reforms in media sector, and to push parliament to endorse the proposed media regulation law “that the Libyan Organization for Independent Media (LOFIM) has worked on since 2019.

The organizations’ Statement :
The basic vision of the alliance of non-governmental organizations concerned with media, human rights and community development is based on developing an integrated national strategy to defend freedom of expression and media and put pressure towards the adoption of fundamental structural reforms in the media sector, and the adoption of a law for the High Council for Media.

We affirm that freedom of expression and media are the basic human right that must be safeguarded. We must also strengthen the independence and pluralism of the Libyan media, and support the right of men and women to access information.

We stress that media freedom and independence are the essence and the main pillar for democratic societies, political pluralism and justice, and without media freedom and independence , the human rights, the rule of law and democracy cannot be guaranteed.

We welcome the timid reforms recently approved by the Government of National Unity regarding the establishment of a media monitoring body, without forgetting that there are still many radical reforms, most notably the establishment of the high council for Media, the restructuring of public media.

We recognize the essential role that the media can play in the transition process by ensuring public access to fair and transparent information, their right to express their views and concerns, exposing wrongdoing, and combating all forms of hate speech.

Therefore, we, the undersigned organizations, announce the establishment of an alliance to defend media freedom and work together towards making the necessary reforms in media sector, the most important of which is the call for the House of Representatives to endorse the media regulation law “that the Libyan Independent Media Organization has worked on since 2019 through a committee that includes legal experts and journalists.

Signing organizations:

Atwar Organization for Research and Community Development

Libyan Organization for Independent Media (LOFIM)

Aswat Media Network

Libyan Center for Press Freedom

Libyan Observatory for Freedom of Expression

Libyan Institution for Investigative Journalism (LIFIJ)

Jadid organization for sports media

Zolaf Association for Development and Media

Arts Institute for Culture and Media

Tripoli / 24 January 2022