For decades, the occupation of Palestine has been portrayed by international media and agencies through narratives which leave out the experience of those living through the conflict themselves. This conference by Mauricio Morales, an independent photojournalist, invites us to reflect upon the role of photojournalism in the creation of these visual narratives. During his talk, Mauricio will discuss how documentary work can be used in photography to become a tool for resistance, remembrance and denunciation in the face of violence and dehumanization. In Palestine, he will be analyzing the role played by images in portraying how the occupation is perceived internationally, as well as the ways in which his work seeks to question the most widespread representations, focusing on aspects often left out of the media’s spotlight, including daily life under occupation, social and cultural dynamics, and the direct consequences of the conflict on the civilian population. He covered the war in Syria for several years and spent time in Syrian Kurdistan in late 2024 and early this year, after the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime. 

Organized with the cooperation of the Master’s degree in Journalism and the International Order at the Universidad Rey Juan Carlos (URJC). Representing the Master’s program, there will be participation and an introduction of the speaker by Amal Abu-Warda, a professor of International Political Communication by Geographic Areas in the URJC Master’s degree program. Moderating the session will be Olivia Orozco, Casa Árabe’s Training and Economics Coordinator. 

The conference will be broadcast live on our YouTube channel. 

Mauricio Morales 

Mauricio Morales Duarte is a Colombian photojournalist and journalist with extensive experience covering conflicts and social issues in Latin America and the Middle East. Since 2012, he has been documenting events in countries such as Palestine, Syria, Turkey, Libya and Lebanon. 

He has worked as a freelance photographer for various domestic and foreign organizations and media outlets, and his work has been published in well-known media outlets such as Al-Jazeera, The New York Times, The Guardian, Time, France 24 and others. He has also collaborated with various news agencies and NGOs on projects related with human rights and armed conflict. 

He has been nominated twice for the Joop Swart Masterclass given by World Press Photo, selected for The New York Timesportfolio review in 2013, and participated in the Eddie Adams Workshop in 2015. A sample of his work can be viewed at Mauricio Morales Duarte.