Manila 2011
Recalls the Oxford Manifesto: to promote media free from undue control or interference by government or dominant companies
Recalls the Liberal International Executive (2010, South Africa) Resolution on Media Freedom
The Liberal International Congress notes with concern that media freedom in the MENA region is at stake.
Once, the Moroccan press was known as one of the regions freest, but in recent years we have noted a reversal in government policy. Reporters Without Borders ranked Morocco 106th in 2007, 122th in 2008, 127th in 2009 and 135th in 2010. This reflects the growing intolerance towards journalists and correspondents and the fact that promised reforms made during the past years and more specifically during the last months still have little effect. Regretfully, even after the Arab Spring started, there have
been many incidents that illustrate this development.
Furthermore the Liberal International congress notes that:
The right to freedom of opinion and expression supposes that all citizens are free to express their ideas or opinions without threat or harassment.
With the significant expansion of the means of digital communications in particular among this region’s young people, it is imperative that the right to access these means of communications through the internet should be guaranteed and unrestricted
Liberal International Congress calls for unequivocal support of member parties for media freedom in their respective countries and worldwide. Liberal parties should be leaders where media freedom is concerned.
Calls upon the Liberal International member parties in Morocco (Mouvement Populaire and Union Constitutionelle) to do whatever lies in their power to improve the situation of the press in Morocco
