Jordanian lawmakers discuss freedom of expression and access to information with UNESCO

In a session facilitated by UNESCO, Jordanian lawmakers and legal experts gathered during the Future of Media and Communication (FMC) Forum on September 21 in Amman to tackle a pressing question: How can Parliament truly deliver on citizens' constitutional rights to freedom of expression and access to information?. The Forum was held with contributions from UNESCO's Multi-Donor Programme on Freedom of Expression and Safety of Journalists.

With recent amendments to Jordan’s Access to Information Law and a rising public demand for transparency, the discussion underscored the critical importance of both the Senate and the House of Representatives. Participants argued that Parliament's job isn't just to pass laws, but to actively ensure those legal commitments become "lived realities" for Jordanians through oversight, legislation, and a more engaged relationship with civil society and the media.

Dr. Rawan Al-Jayousi, who moderated the discussion, set the tone by stating that these freedoms aren't abstract concepts or luxuries, but core constitutional rights essential for Jordan’s political life.

Leading the conversation, Dr. Mustafa Al-Amawi, Chairperson of the Legal Committee in the House of Representatives, highlighted Parliament’s pivotal role in closing the divide between what's written in the law and what happens in practice. He pointed out the need for parliamentarians to ensure that journalists and ordinary citizens can effectively access public information while also adapting to Jordan's rapidly changing media environment.

From the Senate, Senator Ehsan Barakat emphasized that the upper house also has a responsibility to advance reforms that enhance transparency and freedom of expression. She stressed the importance of ensuring that Jordan's international human rights commitments are woven into the very fabric of parliamentary debates and policy reviews.

The session concluded with a call for deeper engagement between Parliament and citizens and independent media to ensure these freedoms become shared, lived rights.

This timely conversation highlighted how Jordan can balance its established governance with principles of openness and accountability. By strengthening legislative frameworks and deepening public engagement, parliamentarians have the opportunity to reinforce democratic values and build greater trust between institutions and citizens. The session reflects UNESCO’s belief in the vital role parliamentarians play in protecting and promoting these rights, both when debating draft laws on press freedom, access to information, and media regulation, and by exercising their own freedom of expression through active participation in public debate.