During the period between December 2009 and May 2010, Maharat has worked on raising the awareness of journalists and the general public and lobbying for the adoption of the access to information law at the Lebanese parliament by implementing the following activities:
- Production of a comprehensive guidebook on the Status of Access to Information in Lebanon
The guidebook targets investigative journalists in addition to the general public benefiting from the law of access to official information such as individuals, NGOs, members of parliament, politicians and the private sector.
The booklet aims at:
- Emphasizing the importance of Access to Information regulation as a basic tool in the democratic process favoring the position of citizen via public bodies and any tendencies of abuse of power, waste of public money and mismanagement.
- Simplifying the understanding of the principles of Right of access to information.
- Assessing the current legal system and practices regarding access to information
- Providing a brief to investigative journalist about the main principles and mechanisms of the new draft on access to information regulation proposed by the national network
for the right of access to information in Lebanon.
The guidebook consists of detailed explanations about the law of free access to information, and how this law will help improve the work of journalists and their professional lives by increasing transparency and accountability.
The Guidebook is composed of the following topics:
- History of Access to information Culture in Lebanon
- Obstacles and Challenges facing the Access to Information
- Investigative Journalism facing Inadequate Access to information
- Journalists testimony and experience with Government Censorship
- The New Draft Law for Access to Information in Lebanon
Furthermore, the Guide has been divided into three parts:
Part 1- Access to information and investigative journalism.
Part 2 - Access to information in Lebanon facts, practices and prospective.
Part 3- journalists' practical experience
- High Political Lobbying Meetings with Parliamentarians:
Since legislation in Lebanon have not been sufficiently engaged in the promotion and realization of the right of access to information, Maharat conducted one on one interviews with Parliamentarians advocating for the adoption of the access to information law convincing politicians about its importance in the improvement of our democratic practices.
- Organization of a national conference:
Maharat, in collaboration with the national network for free access to information has organized a national conference on the 21st of May 2010 in Monroe Hotel. The conference was attended by the minister of information Dr. Tarek Mitri and the Parliament member Ghassan Moukheiber and aimed at raising the awareness and gaining the support of journalists, political leaders, and decision makers, NGO representatives, in addition to journalists, reporters and key media figures regarding the importance of lobbying for the proposed free access to information law.
During the conference, journalists were asked to share their professional experiences and write about this issue in their daily work.
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