On the occasion of May 3, World Press Freedom Day, the Afghan Journalists Safety Committee (AJSC), joins national and international media support organizations and other relevant entities, in emphasizes the importance of safeguarding independent media work.
May 3, World Press Freedom Day, was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in 1993 to highlight the fundamental principles of press freedom, encourage governments to support media, assess the state of media freedom, and commemorate journalists who have lost their lives in the line of duty.
As one of the fundamental pillars of society, the media plays a vital role in ensuring citizens’ right to access information, strengthening transparency, accountability, and the rule of law. By reflecting realities and presenting diverse perspectives, media outlets foster public awareness and meaningful participation in social and political affairs.
Despite the fact that the country’s media sector has faced serious challenges in various aspects of media work in recent years, media outlets and journalists have continued to fulfill their duty of informing the public with dedication and sacrifice.
Over the past year, numerous cases against journalists and media workers have been recorded, and Afghanistan witnessed the killing of two journalists and two media workers. Journalists have also faced challenges in accessing information and job security
AJSC calls on the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) to take necessary measures to ensure the safety of journalists. AJSC also urges the authorities to establish effective support mechanisms for journalists and media outlets and to take practical steps to facilitate journalists’ access to information.
AJSC also calls on all relevant stakeholders of the country’s media sector to take necessary steps to address the economic challenges of media outlets and to enhance the capacity of journalists and media institutions.
AJSC has been consistently working to address challenges facing the media and facilitate a safe environment for journalists.
