Arab League Initiates Media Education Strategy with Kuwait’s Participation

KUWAIT CITY: The Arab League has inaugurated its first meeting dedicated to forming a media education strategy, marking a significant step in enhancing Arab media systems. The session, which began on Tuesday at the League's headquarters, saw notable participation from Kuwait. According to Kuwait News Agency, Assistant Secretary General and Head of the Media and Communication Sector at the League, Ambassador Ahmad Khatabi, emphasized the importance of media education in his opening address. He stated that this initiative emerged from the latest discussions at the Council of Arab Information Ministers, reflecting a strategic move to upgrade the analytical and operational skills within both traditional and digital media sectors across Arab nations. Ambassador Khatabi further elaborated on the efforts undertaken in preparation for this strategy. The Technical Secretariat has reached out to member states to implement resolution no. 535, issued in June 2023, which encourages the sharing of national experiences an d initiatives concerning media education. This resolution aims at laying the groundwork for a comprehensive Arab strategy on the topic. He also referenced several scientific events that have been organized to bolster this initiative. Notable among these was a symposium at ISESCO's headquarters in Rabat last February, and a conference in April, held under the joint auspices of the Secretary-General of the Arab League, UNESCO, and the Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport. These events focused on promoting a culture of peace and addressing the risks posed by media misinformation. The timing of this meeting is strategic, aligning with the upcoming World Media and Information Literacy Week scheduled for October 24 in Jordan. Ambassador Khatabi highlighted this as a clear signal of the Arab commitment to addressing the educational challenges presented by the digital age with credibility and a forward-looking approach. The participation of a Kuwaiti delegation from the Ministry of Informati on over the two-day meeting underscores the country's active role in this pan-Arab educational endeavor.