Tripoli, May 21
The Libyan Center for Freedom of Press (LCFP) held the regular annual meeting of its General Assembly on Saturday, May 21, 2022, headed by the President of the General Assembly, Ms. Swelma Boker, and the Chairman of the Board of Directors, Dr. Mohamed Al-Asfar. The majority of the Assembly members and the working group were present in the meeting. During this meeting, all projects and activities accomplished in 2021 by LCFP were presented. In addition to the projects that it will work on during 2022-2023. The annual budget and all the expenses incurred by LCFP for the conduct of its business and the success of its projects were also presented. The members of the General Assembly approved the narrative and financial reports for the years 2020 and 2021 with a quorum of half +1.
The annual meeting focused on discussing the state of shortage in funds, the decline in the activities carried out by LCFP since the Covid19 pandemic, and the scarcity of funds from international donors, due to the restrictions imposed by the Civil Society Commission and its “blatant” interference in the work of non-governmental organizations. That happened in the light of the silence of the Presidential Council and the government. LCFP was also faced with a political stalemate and polarization in the country.
During the meeting, Chairman of the Board of Directors Dr. Muhammad Al-Asfar insisted on the necessity to address national government agencies such as executive bodies, public companies and banks to finance media development programs and projects, as stated in the social responsibility clause, and to ensure reliance on national funding, in condition of integrity and independence.
The participants to the meeting recommended to increase the number of participants by setting up a mechanism to attract new members, increasing the funds of major programs, activities, operational expenditures and human resources, and subjecting them to review by an external financial office. They also emphasized the need to expand partnerships at the international level with donor organizations by the means of effective communication.
The meeting concluded with the need to expand the programs and activities of the strategic plan for the years 2022 and 2023, to include media monitoring, verification of allegations, follow-up of the national elections, and the programs to combat impunity and structural and legal reforms of the Libyan media sector.