Kabul, Afghanistan: On this day last year, Afghanistan joined Media Freedom Coalition, an initiative by the Governments of the United Kingdom and Canada to bring together countries for press freedom and journalist safety. Afghan Journalists Safety Committee (AJSC) expresses concerns about the Afghan government’s failure to fully implement the commitments the Coalition puts before governments that join the Coalition.
The Media Freedom Coalition was formed in July 2019 and is a partnership of countries working together to advocate for media freedom and safety of journalists. It is also meant to hold to account those who inflict violence on journalists for doing their job. To date, 37 countries have joined the coalition membership, with Afghanistan formally acceding to the Coalition on January 27, 2020.
By signing the Media Freedom Pledge, the member states of the coalition commit to supporting press freedom and journalist safety in the short and long term, address cases of violence against journalists and share relevant information on the progress of investigations and prosecution of perpetrators of crimes and violence against journalists.
Over the past year, the Afghan government has failed to take effective and meaningful practical measures to implement its commitments vis-a-vis the Coalition. This is particularly significant as threats against journalists and media have dramatically increased. The measures the government has taken so far with regards to journalists’ safety cannot meet the extensive needs.
At the same time, some of the government’s attempts over the past year could have restricted press freedom if not countered. For instance, in early 2020, the government drafted a new Media Law that, if passed, would have significantly restricted press freedom.
The Afghan government also lacks a clear and coherent plan to preserve Freedom of Expression and freedom of the media in Afghan Peace Talks. In particular, the growing threats against journalists and media workers and the targeted killing of journalists raises serious concerns over the future of media as one of the important pillars of democracy.
AJSC renews its call on the government to take meaningful measures towards safety of journalists. The government must also investigate cases of targeted killings of journalists that took place in the past three months, and share their investigations with the media community. At the same time, the AJSC urges members of the Media Freedom Coalition, including the United Kingdom, Canada, and international organizations, to persuade the Afghan government to fulfill its obligations pertaining to the Coalition so Afghanistan can create a safe working environment for journalists. Additionally, AJSC requests that the international community pressure the Taliban through their political office in Doha so they cease violence against journalists and media workers.