Posted on[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] by [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
[size=52]The right to access information... a goal that journalists in Iraq do not achieve[/size]
[size=45]The House of Representatives will discuss next Sunday the second reading of the draft law guaranteeing the right to access information for the year 2024, which has been in the drawers of the House of Representatives for nearly a decade for amendment purposes, as obtaining information is one of the most important rights that must be achieved and obtained by any Iraqi citizen.
The right to access information is considered an important step towards more open management, and a tool for evaluating the performance of governments; as it allows those dealing with various state agencies (individuals, media professionals and civil society) to monitor their performance and hold them accountable in the event of violations resulting from corruption or mismanagement. A
fundamental right
Due to the importance of this right, the United Nations General Assembly adopted, in its first session, Resolution No. 59/1, a resolution on it, which states: “Freedom of access to information is a fundamental human right, and it is the touchstone of all the rights that the United Nations has dedicated itself to defending, and access to information includes collecting, transmitting and disseminating information everywhere without obstacles.”
The text of the African Platform Declaration, which was adopted at the Pan-African Conference on Access to Information held in September 2011, and in which many regional and international governmental, parliamentary, professional bodies and other civil society bodies participated, stated that the right to access information is a right for all natural and legal persons, and that this right includes searching for, accessing and receiving this information from public and private bodies that practice public work, as well as the state’s duty to disclose this information.
Challenges
Journalists in Iraq suffer from challenges while practicing this profession, including difficulty in obtaining information, legal prosecution, arrest, intimidation, and enticement, which may sometimes reach physical liquidation, which is what happened to a number of journalists in recent years. The difficulties are not limited to the field work of journalists, correspondents and photographers, as journalists in media outlets and satellite channels live a “bitter reality”, given that “the majority of institutions in Iraq are partisan and not independent, and rely on political conflicts and speculations with the aim of downfall and material gain.”
Journalists are demanding the enactment of a law that protects journalists and addresses the restrictions imposed by publishing laws related to information that is often of a political, security and economic nature to stifle freedom of expression and prevent the publication of corruption cases of some influential people, in light of “a government obsession that fears journalism, especially investigative journalism, to cover up documents and corruption files due to the lack of transparency.” Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani’s
assurances
last June that the government has worked to provide a safe environment that guarantees journalists the ability to perform their role without harassment or arbitrariness, while indicating that it is determined to proceed with determination to complete the requirements of the draft law on the right to access information, after it was voted on by the Council of Ministers.
The Prime Minister said that “the Iraqi press has contributed to spreading culture, and its pages have hosted important cultural debates that have influenced the Arab cultural structure,” noting that “free verse was born in the pages of Iraqi newspapers, in addition to other creative stations such as theater, cinema and art, where the press has contributed to their advancement and renewal.”
He added that “the most important influence of the press is its role in the political situations and events that Iraq’s history has witnessed,” noting that “the press has proven to be closer to the people’s concerns and a decisive and influential factor in raising public awareness against attempts to domesticate it or seize its freedom and thinking.”
He pointed out that “the dictatorial regime executed, disappeared and arrested many journalists, and many of them were forced to emigrate,” explaining that “with Iraq’s liberation from dictatorship, our press has become a fundamental contributor to building a free, pluralistic Iraq in which everyone enjoys freedom, dignity and respect for human rights.”
He stated that “the press has a role in defending the new Iraq and exposing terrorism, as well as its role during the major battles that our security forces have fought against terrorism,” explaining that “the press has provided, since 2003 until today, convoys of martyrs and wounded who have sacrificed their lives for the sake of Iraq.”
He stressed that “our government has been keen to provide all the possibilities for success for the professional national press, believing in the value of journalistic work and its national role. The government has also worked to provide a safe environment that ensures that journalists perform their role without harassment or abuse,” stressing “to proceed with determination to complete the requirements of the draft law on the right to access information, after it was voted on by the Council of Ministers.”
He continued: “Today, we are proud that there is no prisoner or prisoner of opinion for journalists,” noting that “there are platforms that harm the professionalism of journalism, and work to poison the atmosphere and mislead public opinion, exploiting the space of freedom, and harming the free and responsible press, before harming the state and its institutions.”
He concluded by saying: “The professional national press is our main partner in building the state, through which we explore the sources of dysfunction, corruption and mismanagement, and convey the concerns of the people.”
While the Chairman of the Federal Integrity Commission, Judge Haider Hanoun, stressed the role of the Commission in preparing the draft law on the right to access information and insisting on its approval, noting its “importance in establishing the rules of transparency and making information available to citizens and the media regarding the work of the executive authority, its projects and the percentage of completion thereof, in addition to its tenders, contracts and estimated costs.”
Hanoun noted “the establishment of partnerships and strengthening ties between the Commission and community organizations, indicating that “these organizations have a major role in enhancing transparency and justice in the processes of formulating policies and making decisions in a way that guarantees the interests of society in all its segments on the one hand, and on the other hand obtaining the support of these segments, in addition to seeking to preserve the dignity and interests of citizens and individuals from the threat of those in charge, and combating individual violations of human rights by legal means.”
According to the statement, Hanoun explained “the role of civil society organizations and the media in supporting the legislation that aims to combat corruption launched by the Commission, most notably the Right to Information Law, stressing the Commission’s need for pressure groups to work with it to complete the legal system that combats corruption on the one hand, and to work to establish a culture of the rule of law and create a fair environment in society on the other hand, by developing long-term programs that establish a society free of corruption,” noting that “while the Commission works to strengthen the relationship and communication with civil society organizations, it also calls on some of those organizations from which international organizations obtain information for their reports to adopt objectivity and balance in diagnosing negatives, supporting successes, and motivating achievers and initiators.”
The House of Representatives had completed the first reading of the draft law on access to information on February 14, 2024. The media department of the House of Representatives stated in a statement that the House of Representatives completed the first reading of the draft law on access to information.[/size]
[size=45][You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
[size=52]The right to access information... a goal that journalists in Iraq do not achieve[/size]
[size=45]The House of Representatives will discuss next Sunday the second reading of the draft law guaranteeing the right to access information for the year 2024, which has been in the drawers of the House of Representatives for nearly a decade for amendment purposes, as obtaining information is one of the most important rights that must be achieved and obtained by any Iraqi citizen.
The right to access information is considered an important step towards more open management, and a tool for evaluating the performance of governments; as it allows those dealing with various state agencies (individuals, media professionals and civil society) to monitor their performance and hold them accountable in the event of violations resulting from corruption or mismanagement. A
fundamental right
Due to the importance of this right, the United Nations General Assembly adopted, in its first session, Resolution No. 59/1, a resolution on it, which states: “Freedom of access to information is a fundamental human right, and it is the touchstone of all the rights that the United Nations has dedicated itself to defending, and access to information includes collecting, transmitting and disseminating information everywhere without obstacles.”
The text of the African Platform Declaration, which was adopted at the Pan-African Conference on Access to Information held in September 2011, and in which many regional and international governmental, parliamentary, professional bodies and other civil society bodies participated, stated that the right to access information is a right for all natural and legal persons, and that this right includes searching for, accessing and receiving this information from public and private bodies that practice public work, as well as the state’s duty to disclose this information.
Challenges
Journalists in Iraq suffer from challenges while practicing this profession, including difficulty in obtaining information, legal prosecution, arrest, intimidation, and enticement, which may sometimes reach physical liquidation, which is what happened to a number of journalists in recent years. The difficulties are not limited to the field work of journalists, correspondents and photographers, as journalists in media outlets and satellite channels live a “bitter reality”, given that “the majority of institutions in Iraq are partisan and not independent, and rely on political conflicts and speculations with the aim of downfall and material gain.”
Journalists are demanding the enactment of a law that protects journalists and addresses the restrictions imposed by publishing laws related to information that is often of a political, security and economic nature to stifle freedom of expression and prevent the publication of corruption cases of some influential people, in light of “a government obsession that fears journalism, especially investigative journalism, to cover up documents and corruption files due to the lack of transparency.” Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani’s
assurances
last June that the government has worked to provide a safe environment that guarantees journalists the ability to perform their role without harassment or arbitrariness, while indicating that it is determined to proceed with determination to complete the requirements of the draft law on the right to access information, after it was voted on by the Council of Ministers.
The Prime Minister said that “the Iraqi press has contributed to spreading culture, and its pages have hosted important cultural debates that have influenced the Arab cultural structure,” noting that “free verse was born in the pages of Iraqi newspapers, in addition to other creative stations such as theater, cinema and art, where the press has contributed to their advancement and renewal.”
He added that “the most important influence of the press is its role in the political situations and events that Iraq’s history has witnessed,” noting that “the press has proven to be closer to the people’s concerns and a decisive and influential factor in raising public awareness against attempts to domesticate it or seize its freedom and thinking.”
He pointed out that “the dictatorial regime executed, disappeared and arrested many journalists, and many of them were forced to emigrate,” explaining that “with Iraq’s liberation from dictatorship, our press has become a fundamental contributor to building a free, pluralistic Iraq in which everyone enjoys freedom, dignity and respect for human rights.”
He stated that “the press has a role in defending the new Iraq and exposing terrorism, as well as its role during the major battles that our security forces have fought against terrorism,” explaining that “the press has provided, since 2003 until today, convoys of martyrs and wounded who have sacrificed their lives for the sake of Iraq.”
He stressed that “our government has been keen to provide all the possibilities for success for the professional national press, believing in the value of journalistic work and its national role. The government has also worked to provide a safe environment that ensures that journalists perform their role without harassment or abuse,” stressing “to proceed with determination to complete the requirements of the draft law on the right to access information, after it was voted on by the Council of Ministers.”
He continued: “Today, we are proud that there is no prisoner or prisoner of opinion for journalists,” noting that “there are platforms that harm the professionalism of journalism, and work to poison the atmosphere and mislead public opinion, exploiting the space of freedom, and harming the free and responsible press, before harming the state and its institutions.”
He concluded by saying: “The professional national press is our main partner in building the state, through which we explore the sources of dysfunction, corruption and mismanagement, and convey the concerns of the people.”
While the Chairman of the Federal Integrity Commission, Judge Haider Hanoun, stressed the role of the Commission in preparing the draft law on the right to access information and insisting on its approval, noting its “importance in establishing the rules of transparency and making information available to citizens and the media regarding the work of the executive authority, its projects and the percentage of completion thereof, in addition to its tenders, contracts and estimated costs.”
Hanoun noted “the establishment of partnerships and strengthening ties between the Commission and community organizations, indicating that “these organizations have a major role in enhancing transparency and justice in the processes of formulating policies and making decisions in a way that guarantees the interests of society in all its segments on the one hand, and on the other hand obtaining the support of these segments, in addition to seeking to preserve the dignity and interests of citizens and individuals from the threat of those in charge, and combating individual violations of human rights by legal means.”
According to the statement, Hanoun explained “the role of civil society organizations and the media in supporting the legislation that aims to combat corruption launched by the Commission, most notably the Right to Information Law, stressing the Commission’s need for pressure groups to work with it to complete the legal system that combats corruption on the one hand, and to work to establish a culture of the rule of law and create a fair environment in society on the other hand, by developing long-term programs that establish a society free of corruption,” noting that “while the Commission works to strengthen the relationship and communication with civil society organizations, it also calls on some of those organizations from which international organizations obtain information for their reports to adopt objectivity and balance in diagnosing negatives, supporting successes, and motivating achievers and initiators.”
The House of Representatives had completed the first reading of the draft law on access to information on February 14, 2024. The media department of the House of Representatives stated in a statement that the House of Representatives completed the first reading of the draft law on access to information.[/size]
[size=45][You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
» Central Bank: Closing the electronic platform enhances financial stability
» UGT donates feasibility study to Iraq on bringing solar energy to homes
» "Oil Money Is Not Enough" Parliament's Finance
» "Oil Money Is Not Enough" Parliament's Finance
» Clarification of the importance of the Central Bank’s decision to ban the sale of real estate above
» Signing a memorandum of understanding with British Petroleum / BP regarding a program to evaluate th
» Al-Sudani receives in London the CEO of GE for the Europe, Middle East and Africa region
» Iraq, General Electric discuss energy initiatives
» Shell plans to increase investments in Iraq
» Iraq’s economic growth forecast for 2024: A promising path forward
» Parliamentary Finance: Banking reform enhances Iraq's global
» Localization.. Signs of positive development to support the national economy
» Experts call for activating the agriculture and industry sectors
» The Central Bank of Iraq directs banks to spread and expand their financial services
» Al-Sudani: British exports to Iraq exceeded $1 billion in 2024, and its companies concluded contrac
» Above $80.. New rise in oil prices
» Coordination Framework announces agreement to move forward with budget amendments to achieve "social
» I regret to inform you after 20 yrs of postings
» Central Bank of Iraq sells over $1.16 billion in foreign currency
» Iraq-China trade cooperation reaches $50 billion in 11 months
» Salih: Iraq ranks first in the world in the concentration of natural resources
» PM Advisor: The monetary enhancement mechanism will safeguard financial stability in the country
» Government Adviser: Non-Oil GDP Growth in 2024 Reaches Unprecedented Levels
» Parliament conforms to World Bank on the importance of government infrastructure in development
» PM: Restructuring government banks to ensure the availability of capabilities and openness with glob
» entral Bank: There is no financial problem threatening employees’ salaries and we have great capabil
» Basra crude achieves weekly gains amid rising oil markets
» The dollar falls against the dinar in Baghdad and Erbil with the closing at the beginning of the wee
» PM Al-Sudani eyes tourism as a cornerstone of Iraq’s non-oil economy
» PMF Chief: Iraq's armed forces at their strongest
» INA discusses exchange rates files, foreign transfers, and housing initiatives with the CBI governor
» Government Adviser: Non-Oil GDP Growth in 2024 Reaches Unprecedented Levels
» Parliament conforms to World Bank on the importance of government infrastructure in development
» Iraq exports oil worth over $5 billion to US in 11 months
» Iraq’s Ministry of Oil announces 2024 petroleum product sales
» US dollar exchange rate continues to decline in Iraq
» Iraq completes 400-kilometer security border wall with Syria
» Iraq collaborates with Ernst & Young on state-owned bank reforms
» Kurdistan records a significant increase in the number of imported cars during 2024
» The Ministry of Justice announces the implementation of the electronic payment system in all notary
» The Ministry of Justice counts the achievements and activities achieved during the past year accordi
» Central Bank: We have started working with the correspondent banking system
» Is the Ministry of Finance hiding the facts?.. An expert reveals the main reason for the shortage of
» Reconstruction: 2025 plan includes 70 external road projects
» Economist: The government is obligated to pay salaries as it is a matter of fate
» The Central Bank of Iraq opens new horizons in foreign transfers and enhances international financia
» Judge Zidane and Al-Sudani are the first to disclose their financial assets in 2025
» Oil Price: Trump's Team Considers 'Direct Sanctions' on Iraq That Will Hit Oil
» Parliamentary Integrity: The amounts recovered from the “theft of the century” do not exceed 5%, and
» Dinars entering the Ministry of Finance are 20% less than the amount it needs.. Iraqis start their n
» Mazhar Saleh: No salary crisis and financial reserves cover liquidity completely
» Central Bank announces major achievement in foreign transfers
» Confirmation that America is putting pressure on Al-Sudani to transform the Iraqi regime into "secul
» Warnings of the dangers of the Turkish-Zionist-American plan to destabilize Iraq
» Expert: Iraqi economy is stable despite changes in the dollar market
» Economist praises ASYCUDA automation system: A step towards achieving important resources
» More than $60 billion in Iraqi currency auction sales in 2024
» Is there a salary crisis in Iraq? Al-Sudani’s advisor explains
» The Central Bank decides to suspend withdrawals and deposits for four days
» Al-Sudani Office announces the implementation of the global ASYCUDA system to automate customs opera
» The leaders “reconciled” and the amendment of the electoral law is “a done deal”.. What does this da
» With the document .. MP Sand files a complaint against the Ministry of Finance .. for this reason
» Parliamentary Finance: The government is working to enhance non-oil revenues
» The 10 most indebted Arab countries in 2024.. This is Iraq's rank
» utube 12/27/24 MM&C MM&C Iraq Dinar News-Iraqs Wealth Fund-National Currency-Arab World Volume Tra
» utube 12/28/24 Iraq - CBI Governor Makes an Announcement, Digital Banking Expansion
» utube 12/29/24 MM&C MM&C Iraq Dinar News-Digital Transformation-Global Economic Power-USA-Imminent
» utube 12/31/24 MM&C MM&C Iraq Dinar News-Commemorative Coin?-Investment Attractive-Dollar Auction
» Al-Sudani chairs expanded meeting to review Oil Ministry projects
» Prime Minister stresses importance of investing best opportunities to maximize state revenues
» Prime Minister's Office announces implementation of ASYCUDA global system for automating customs ope
» Judiciary: Recovering 12 billion dinars for financial fraud crime
» US-Iranian Tension: Iraq Between Competition and Mediation Role After Trump’s Return
» MP confirms settlement of controversy over ministerial amendments
» National Union: Time is no longer sufficient for the dialogue on the oil and gas law to mature
» Economist: Relying on oil as a source of revenue will have serious consequences
» Al-Maliki: Repeated amendments to the election law weaken voter confidence in the political process
» Parliamentary Legal: Interrogating ministers and officials is still subject to political agreements
» Due to the American veto, Iraq suffers from a weak armament in the face of regional developments
» What is holding up the passage of the oil and gas law so far?
» New Cabinet Resolutions Package
» Experts speak to {Sabah} about the most important economic events in 2024
» Al-Sudani stresses the importance of review and investing the best opportunities to maximize state r
» With more than 30 billion dollars... a leap in the projects market in Iraq
» Central Bank of Iraq sells about $290 million in currency auction
» Customs: Our revenues increased by 128% during the current year
» Our Economic and Financial Vision for 2025 in Iraq
» How much of Iraq's electrical system has been lost due to the halt of Iranian gas?
» $31.7 billion is the increase in the value of its market projects in Iraq
» Turkmen gas will cover 50% of Iraq's stations' needs.. New details about the agreement
» Basra-Haditha oil pipeline.. will go to 5 countries and this is its value
» Early talk about postponing the elections is “evidence” of Iraq’s entry into the map of change in th
» New details on the incident of the "death of a US National Guard soldier" in Iraq - Urgent
» Economist: Iraq-Jordan oil pipeline enters implementation phase
» International Report: 2025 will be the largest year for projects inside Iraq
» Monetary policy collapses in Iraq.. Investment in banks is almost non-existent and the Central Bank
» We have started preparing for next summer.. Electricity: The agreement to supply Turkmen gas will co
» Former MP: Wrong timing hinders the passage of laws