Joint report of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and the United Nations Human Rights Office, OHCHR, recorded 336 cases of human rights violations against media professionals between August 2021 and September 2024.
Threatens freedom of the press
“Journalists and media workers in Afghanistan work under unclear rules about what they can and cannot report, risking threats and arbitrary detention for perceived criticism, ” speak Roza Otunbayeza, the head UNAMA.
“For any country, press freedom is not a choice but a necessity. What we are witnessing in Afghanistan is a systematic dismantling of this necessity.”
The report titled Media Freedom in Afghanistan cited 256 cases of arbitrary arrest and detention, combined with 130 cases of torture and ill-treatment. A further 75 recorded cases of threats and intimidation created an atmosphere of fear.
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk emphasized the broader implications of these restrictions.
“Journalists and media officers are more than just observers – they are essential to ensuring transparency and accountability, promoting informed debate,” he said. know further that they are vital in “helping communities access vital information on humanitarian and protection issues that directly affect their lives”. .
Female journalists face many more barriers
The findings show that female media professionals face serious limitations. Those who continue to work face discriminatory regulations that affect everything from dress codes to the stories they can cover.
During the daily press conference at the United Nations Headquarters, Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq emphasized this gender aspect: “Female journalists and media workers face specific discriminatory measures that reduce limit their ability to do their job.”
Mrs. Otunbayeza also called for it reality the competent authorities “fully recognize the importance of women working in the media sector”.
Future meaning
The report also warns of the broader consequences of reduced international support for Afghanistan’s media sector.
Ms. Otunbayeza concluded: “Technical and financial support for the media sector in Afghanistan, thereby affirming the importance of freedom of expression and public debate as tools for the country’s development” .
In the near future, the United Nations is calling reality The administration respected Afghanistan’s obligations under the Agreement International Covenant on Civil and Political Rightsensure freedom of expression without discrimination. The report emphasizes that press freedom is essential not only to ensure transparency and accountability but also for the country’s economic and social development.
“Every effort must be made to ensure that journalists and media workers, including all women, are respected and protected,” Mr. Türk added.
“A free and vibrant media is not a threat to stability – it is key to the health and vitality of any society.
