Human Rights Office Spokesperson Jeremy Laurence urges Afghanistan’s de facto authorities to protect media freedom

“A joint report issued this morning by the UN Human Rights Office and the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) paints a disturbing picture of the media landscape in the country since the Taliban takeover. UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk says measures introduced by the de facto authorities fly in the face of international human rights treaties to which Afghanistan is party,” UN Human Rights Office spokesperson jeremy laurence said.

“The report, which covers the period from the 15^th of August 2021 to the 30^th of September 2024, details a range of human rights violations, as well as worrying trends for media freedom in Afghanistan. Journalists, media workers and media outlets are operating under a worsening environment of censorship and restrictions in accessing information. Women journalists and media workers face particular restrictive and discriminatory measures profoundly limiting their ability to do their work,” Laurence told the bi-weeky press briefing.

“Media workers deemed to have crossed so-called ‘red lines’ imposed by the de facto authorities have been arbitrarily detained for periods ranging from several hours to multiple months, without due process, and in certain cases were convicted and imprisoned,” he said.

The report states that since August 2021 many media outlets have been forced to cease their operations, whether as a result of direct pressure on them or the country’s general economic decline and the withdrawal of much donor funding. Furthermore, many media professionals have sought futures outside, creating an increasing dearth of experience in the media sector.

“On the 19th of September 2021, the de facto authorities issued an “11-Point Guidance” to media, forbidding, among other things, the publication of content deemed contrary to their own assessment of Islam and Afghan culture, or more broadly deemed to be against vague notions of “national interest”. Other restrictions include a prohibition on broadcasting music or movies deemed against Sharia religious law, including those showing women. At offices of media outlets, men and women must work in segregated workspaces, and men and women broadcasters cannot appear in a programme together. In some provinces, women are not even allowed to call into radio programmes, the only exceptions being for those on health or religious issues,” the spokesperson said.

“Some representatives of the de facto authorities have reportedly refused to be interviewed or speak to women. They have favoured the attendance of male journalists at press conferences, while female journalists were either not invited, barred from entering the events upon arrival, or, if present, asked to move to the back of the room. On the 3^rd of May 2023, in Nili city in Daikundi province, the de facto authorities commemorated the World Press Freedom Day with an event to which women journalists were reportedly not invited. On the 19^th of March 2024, the de facto ministry of education invited journalists to attend an event marking the start of the new academic school year. No women were invited, due to alleged lack of space,” Laurence said.

“The High Commissioner says such all-encompassing control of the public space – or what is left of it – is suffocating, not just for the journalists who try to do their essential work at great risk, but for all the people of Afghanistan,” Laurence said.

“The High Commissioner stressed that the Taliban de facto authorities must uphold Afghanistan’s State obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights to ensure the right to freedom of expression without distinction of any kind, including gender. Central to this is respecting the vital role of journalists and media workers, including women, and facilitating the exercise, in safety, of their essential profession,” he said.

ENDS

For more information and media requests, please contact

In Geneva:

Liz Throssell + 41 22 917 9296 / elizabeth.throssell@un.org

Jeremy Laurence - + 41 22 917 9383 / jeremy.laurence@un.org

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