Women’s Voices Without Borders Forum in Arba’ilo (Erbil): SyriacPress official and Suroyo TV presenter, Maria Hanna, stresses the importance of indigenous language media

ARBA’ILO, Kurdistan Region of Iraq — On the occasion of World Press Freedom Day, Arba’ilo (Erbil) was the venue of the Women’s Voices Without Borders Forum on 3-4 May.  The event brought together some 60 women journalists and activists from the Middle East, North Africa, and Europe, with representatives from the European Union, the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, the French Consulate in Arba’ilo (Erbil), and several international media and human rights organizations also attending. 

The forum, which came about with help from the French government, focused on enhancing women’s role in media and public life, particularly in conflict and post-conflict areas. Activities included workshops, roundtable discussions, live podcast sessions, and networking opportunities. 

SyriacPress Official and Suroyo TV presenter Maria Hanna was among the participants. She discussed on stage the situation of Syriac media in Syria and the challenges faced by Syriac journalists, especially during and after the years of conflict following the fall of the Ba’ath regime.

She also explored ways to develop local media to keep pace with political and societal changes in the region. Hanna especially emphasized the importance of media broadcasts in indigenous languages and their role in preserving identity and culture.  

The Women’s Voices Without Borders Forum also featured sessions on the future of journalism in the age of artificial intelligence, technical biases, and the risks of misinformation. Additionally, a special session organized by the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) organization addressed the situation of women journalists in Syria and women’s role in shaping a democratic future based on justice.