United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres gives an address after a closed-door summit on Afghanistan in Doha, Qatar, Tuesday, May 2, 2023. (AP Photo/Lujain Jo)
February 18, 2024 Kabul- The Afghanistan Journalists Center (AFJC) is pleased with the inclusion of a member of the Afghan media community in the UN-convened meeting of Special Envoys on Afghanistan currently taking place in Doha. AFJC calls on the international community to prioritize addressing the pressing concerns and obstacles encountered by Afghan media and journalists.
The two-day meeting, which commenced today in Doha, Qatar, aims to discuss the next steps following the independent assessment on Afghanistan mandated by Resolution 2679. Lotfollah Najafizada, a prominent journalist in Afghanistan, is representing the media community at this meeting, accompanied by three women representing the country's civil society. AFJC has communicated the concerns and issues of the media community in Afghanistan to Najafizada for discussion at the meeting.
Lotfollah Najafizada, a prominent journalist in Afghanistan, is representing the media community at the UN-convened meeting of Special Envoys on Afghanistan in Doha
AFJC's demands have been highlighted both domestically and internationally. Domestically, they call for the repeal of the more than 15 directives issued by the Taliban government that conflict with existing media laws, and for amendments to the Media Law and Access to Information. These directives, issued without proper legal procedures, form the basis of media and journalism policies under the Taliban government. The media law upholds freedom of thought and speech while regulating media activities, and the access to information law guarantees the right of Afghan citizens to access information from governmental departments.
Furthermore, AFJC urges the Taliban government to halt the arbitrary detention of journalists and media personnel, release individuals currently in custody, address media violations through the Media Complaints and Rights Violations Commission, respond promptly to cases of violence against journalists, and establish a central authority for journalists and media organizations to address such issues within the legal framework.
Internationally, AFJC calls on representatives of the international community to increase support for the resilient Afghan media community, strengthen the independence and diversity of media outlets, aid Afghan journalists facing immediate threats with emergency visas, relocation assistance, and financial support, promote independent journalism that serves the public interest in Afghanistan, while also providing essential humanitarian and development aid, and prioritize the protection and empowerment of Afghan women journalists to ensure their active participation in the media landscape.