The workshop, held in cooperation with the Jordanian Media Institute (JMI) and the Jordanian Press Association from 26 to 28 January 2015, discussed a draft curriculum with ten deans of media schools and media lecturers from the region.

As a part of both organizations mandate and working programme related to safety of journalists and freedom of expression, this first workshop reviewed a draft safety curriculum and list of lessons which will be developed into a fully accredited academic course to be taught in universities across the Arab world.

“Providing safety skills and knowledge to media students is crucial to building a culture of safety for media in the region", said Abdel-Nasser Najjar, IFJ Executive Committee member and media lecturer in Palestinian universities. “This is yet another leading initiative taken by the IFJ and partners to strengthen the safety of journalists in one of the most difficult regions in the world, realizing that increasing awareness among younger generations of journalists to the risks associated with reporting in dangerous zones is crucial to their survivals”, he added.

“Being the only UN agency entrusted with supporting the right of Freedom of Expression, and safety of journalists, UNESCO initiated a safety of journalists’ plan that was developed to a UN Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity and was officially endorsed by the UN Chief Executives Board in April 2012”, stated George Awad, programme officer at UNESCO Beirut office.

"UNESCO work includes promoting standard settings at the normative level including the UN Plan of Action and the various resolutions and conventions to raising awareness. UNESCO also focuses on capacity building for improving safety of journalists through highly publicized events including the World Press Freedom Day on 3 May where the UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize is also awarded. Since 2014, we also begin to commemorate the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists on 2 November”, Awad added.

Hence, as a leader in Education, it was normal for UNESCO to take the initiative towards working with the academic sector to institutionalize the safety of journalists’ resources and trainings through integrating them into academic curricula.

Princess Rym Ali, the founder of JMI, joined the workshop as a guest speaker and shared her experience in reporting from conflict zones, including her work as the CNN correspondent in Baghdad in 2001-2004. She stressed the importance of providing training and protection for local journalists and freelancers covering conflicts.

Participants include international experts and lecturers from universities in Lebanon, Palestine, Iraq and Jordan. The curriculum has been drafted by prominent international experts and was adapted to the Arab region’s context.

This pioneering initiative is supported by the Norwegian National Commission for UNESCO, the Norwegian ministry of foreign affairs and the Government of Sweden the project “Promoting an Enabling Environment for Freedom of Expression: Global Action with Special Focus on the Arab Region”.