Arab press advocacy coalition launched

Press advocacy groups have come together to launch the Arab Coalition to Defend Media Freedoms in Amman, a new organisation aimed at defending press freedom and human rights across the Arab world. The new committee includes five local and regional organisations committed to freedom of expression, media freedoms and human rights. The coalition’s first meeting will take place on Tuesday to discuss recommendations for governments and relevant national institutions across the region. Representatives from the coalition have vowed to carry out their work “according to the principles of democracy and human rights,” adding that strengthening civil society organisations would be a priority. Another committee will form in Doha, Qatar’s capital, in June to draft the general principles of the new organisation.