News

The Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms (MADA) and the Geneva Centre for Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF) held a workshop for journalists on the right of access to information at Maan News Agency headquarters in Bethlehem, on Thursday 24 January 2012.

Three years after the end of the Gaza war, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, UNRWA, has launched an emergency appeal for Gaza and the West Bank worth just over 300 million US dollars. Speaking at UNRWA HQ in Gaza , Deputy Commissioner General, Margo Ellis, said “the effects of the war still persist today and the humanitarian needs of the women, men and children of Gaza remain widespread and acute”.

The Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms (MADA) released a legal study entitled "Legal Regulations of Media Freedom in Palestine", prepared by legal advisor Rashad Tawam under the supervision of lawyer Ahmed Nasra. This study was funded by the UNESCO office in Ramallah.

The study sheds light on the legal environment relating to and affecting media freedoms in the Palestinian territories, its impact on restricting media work, and if or how these regulations meet international standards.

It has never been foreseen that a tree might become a target for continuous hostility and brutality despite the fact that this particular tree has been a symbol of peace and prosperity through out the years.

The olive picking season is considered a season of joy and delight; it is also a season were Israeli colonists are most active; they commit their crimes of theft, harassment, physical and verbal abuse, cutting down trees, uprooting trees, and even murder.

NGO Development Center and partners highlight the need to protect and promote human rights throughout the oPt.

"SHAMS" center reminds the United Nations, and peace-loving countries, that, despite the passage of 63 years of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Palestinian people continue to suffer under the yoke of occupation, in flagrant and continuous violations for its basic rights that comprise abuse of the right to life, arrest of thousands of citizens in the prisons of the occupation, prevention of freedom of movement, prevention of access to places of worship, demolition of houses, uprooting trees, confiscation of land and properties, building and expanding settlements, isolation of vi

October, 2011, has witnessed radical escalations and a brutal assault against Palestinians and their properties all around the West Bank especially the Occupied City of Jerusalem.
It is believed that such attack took place in retaliation for the Palestinian statehood bid and accepting its full membership in the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

On the occasion of the International Day for Tolerance on 16th November, SHAMS center calls upon the need to resort to the principle of dialogue, and to refuse resorting to the use or threat of force, and stresses the need for establishing a new vision of tolerance beyond the boundaries of religion and individualism to become a prominent right that should be defended and protected legally.

A cyber attack has crippled he main phone network in the West Bank and Gaza and cut access to the Internet.
Mashour Abou Daqqa, the Palestinian telecoms minister, said the disruptions, which began Tuesday morning, came from various sources around the world, but had no detailed information. He said hackers used IP servers in Germany, China, and Slovenia to launch the attack.

The Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms (MADA) organized two workshops entitled “Freedom of Speech in International and Local Legislation” in the media faculties of Al-Aqsa University in the Gaza Strip and Al-Najah University in the West Bank.

Saturday, 29 October 2011, a group of stone throwing settlers attacked four Palestinian journalists covering the weekly Beit Omar march near Hebron city. Of the journalists, French Agency photographer Hazem Bader, European Agency photographer Abdelhafiz Hashlamoun, Palestine TV cameraman Hussam Abu Alan, and Palestine TV correspondent Fida’ Nasir, Bader sustained the most serious injuries after a large stone struck his head causing substantial bleeding.

On Tuesday 18th of October the following six human rights and good governance NGOs signed grant implementation agreements at the Human Rights and Good Governance Secretariat – hosted by the NGO Development Centre (NDC): Jerusalem Community Advocacy Network (JCAN), Women’s Centre of Shu’ufat Refugee Camp (WSC), Palestinian Youth Association for Leadership and Rights Activation (PYALARA), Young Women Christian’s Association (YWCA), AFKAR for Educational and Cultural Development and the Community Media Centre (CMC).

The Palestinian Environmental NGOs Network (PENGON) and the Palestinian Network for Small and Microfinance (Sharakeh) signed grant agreements with the NGO Development Center (NDC) on the 13th of October, 2011. The aim of the grants is to enhance the effectiveness of thematic networks in implementing their roles in providing services for their member organizations.

10.10.2011 - UNDP and the Ministry of Culture Sign a cooperation agreement in support of the Culture sector: The purpose of the programme is to safeguard and develop Palestinian culture and heritage and utilize its potential as a means of socio-economic development to support Palestinian Statehood. The agreement was signed by H.E Siham Bargouthi, Minister of Culture, and Mr. Frode Mauring, UNDP Special Representative of the Administrator.

The Future Association for Culture and Development has organized a specialized course about the Cognitive Behavioural Therapy CBT in association with the Friends of The Disabled Association.

Knowing that the course is overseen by Dr. Yusuf Awad Allah, director of the Psychiatric Clinic in Rafah, which was attended by 30 participants from the holders of psychological counseling and sociology by 40-hour training and continuing education.

What do you believe will be the steps the Palestinian government will take when the UN General Assembly opens on September 23rd?

The Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms (MADA) extends its greetings and best wishes to all Palestinian journalists on this day, the annual International Day of Solidarity with Palestinian Journalists.

Freedom of expression in Palestine faced a new setback in August with journalists subjected to further violations. Israeli occupation forces committed numerous violations, including arrests, detentions, attacks and the prevention from coverage.

Despite the expectations of a continued decrease of Palestinian security service violations, the numbers of incidences were both higher and more varied, including major threats to freedom of expression and the right of access to information.

IOF arrests 3 journalists

September 12, 2011- The latest World Bank report on West Bank and Gaza affirms that the Palestinian Authority has made substantial progress in implementing its institution-building agenda but that a severe fiscal crisis threatens these important gains.

Illiteracy rates among individuals aged 15 years and over in the Palestinian Territory fell in the period 1997-2010 from 13.9% to 5.1%. The illiteracy rate varies considerably between the sexes: 2.4% for males compared to 7.8% for females. For males, it decreased from 7.8% in 1997 to 2.4% in 2010, while for females it decreased from 20.3% to 7.8% over the same period.

"SHAMS" center salutes the struggle of the Arab youth, and highly upholds their legitimate defense to their nations’ needs and concerns. In each annual occasion of the World Youth Day, we recall what has been achieved and what not in the youth process in order for them to get their rights in education, health, economy, politics and public life. This day is an opportunity to stress importance of youth role in every effort and endeavor to achieve sustainable development.

Jerusalem, 21 July 2011): Today, Mr Maxwell Gaylard, United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator for the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt) visited the Bedouin village of Khan Al Ahmar, together with David Hutton, UNRWA Acting Director for the West Bank, at a time when the community is now facing mass demolitions. This visit took place in the context of a significant increase in demolitions in Area C, where Israel retains control over security, planning and zoning, compared with the same period last year. More demolitions have taken place this year than in all of 2009 or 2010.

Yesterday in the Red Crescent Society Halls in Ramallah, the EU released its study on Civil Society Organisations (CSO) in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt). The report aims to provide a comprehensive overview of CSOs in the oPt, including their capacity-building needs and recommendations for possible intervention areas to be supported by forthcoming cooperation programmes.

Jerusalem, 11 July 2011, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) launched a new report Seven years after the Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice on the Barrier: The Impact of the Barrier in the Jerusalem area.