The Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression organized a series of participatory and consultative discussion sessions between January 25 and 29, 2026, aimed at supporting efforts to improve the legal and professional environment for media in Syria, promoting freedom of opinion and expression, and supporting the independence of journalistic work.
The sessions focused on discussing eight specialized legal papers addressing key areas of media regulation, including:
the independence of the media regulatory authority; the constitutional framework governing freedom of opinion and expression; the criminal criminalization of freedom of expression; the regulation of audiovisual media and print publications; the digital space and its governing regulations; ownership, transparency, and the prevention of media concentration; the right of access to information and the right to knowledge; and the rights, duties, and safety of journalists.
The series concluded in Damascus on January 29, 2026, with a session that brought together legal and media experts, as well as representatives from official bodies, including the Syrian Ministry of Information, the Ministry of Communications and Technology, and Damascus University’s Faculty of Media. The session focused on discussing comparative legislative models and ways to align any new legal framework with international standards, while taking into account the specificities of the Syrian context.
This session was preceded on 27 January by a specialized meeting that brought together media institutions, unions, and journalistic associations, with the participation of the Syrian Journalists’ Union. During the session, the reality of media work and the regulatory and legal challenges facing institutions and workers in the media sector were discussed.
A session on 26 January was dedicated to individual journalists, during which space was provided to convey direct professional experiences and to highlight issues related to the protection of journalists, freedom of access to information, and the legal guarantees required to practice media work safely and independently.
The first session was launched on 25 January at the Faculty of Media, Damascus University, within the framework of engaging the young academic generation. The Center organized a special session for students of the Faculties of Media and Law, aimed at raising awareness of media laws and professional ethics, and providing space for them to express their views and aspirations regarding the future of media and its role in the upcoming phase, contributing to strengthening the link between academic education and professional practice.
The four sessions were facilitated and moderated by lawyer Rana Sheikh Ali, the lead researcher. The project team at the Center—Yara Badr, Ibaa Munther, and Marwan Haroun—confirmed that the sessions were characterized by an independent, consultative, and non-prescriptive approach, ensuring the provision of genuine space for the plurality of opinions and the exchange of experiences.
The discussion outputs, together with the results of the preliminary surveys, will be compiled and analyzed to prepare an initial draft of evidence-based legal recommendations that reflect the diversity of viewpoints and respond to the actual needs of a safer and more professional media environment, in line with relevant international standards.These sessions came as a continuation of a research and legal track accumulated by the Center over the past years, which included the preparation of specialized studies and analyses on media legislation, such as the Study on the Legal Environment for Media Work in Syria, the Study on the Right of Access to Information & Protection of Sources in Syria, a Commentary Paper on the Cybercrime Law in Syria, study on Combating Impunity for Crimes and Human Rights Abuse Against Journalists in Syria, and other related studies, the SCM’s seek to move from theoretical approaches to practical participatory approaches by engaging various stakeholders in an open discussion on the future of media regulation in Syria.
