The panel discussion, moderated by Judge Raba’ Al Kylani and Judge Ahmed Al Faouri, tackled many issues including the role of the judiciary in promoting the right to information; the gender dimension of access to information and the inequality gaps; and challenges in covering COVID 19 and policy guarantees for access to information implementation in time of crisis.
Walid Hosni, Journalist and Researcher in Media Freedoms, noted with concern that journalists and media workers are subjected to significant physical and psychological risk by being at the frontline reporting on the COVID-19 crisis.
They are working under extremely challenging conditions, partly because of a lack of sanitary precautions and training, but also because of psychological stress linked to the rapidly evolving situation.
He added that declarations of state of emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic should not be used as a basis to limit freedom of expression and constrain the working environment of journalists and media workers.
Source: Jordan News Agency