Subject: AJSC’s press release on Celebration of International Women’s Day

Date: 8th March 2017: Subject: AJSC’s press release on Celebration of International Women‘s Day

Once silenced voices, today female journalists play an important role in informing the public, holding government officials accountable and promoting human rights and women rights. They have become an anchor of hope to the nation and the voice to the voiceless women. Female journalists’ courage and dedication in practicing their profession in Afghanistan, which was deemed the 2nd most dangerous country for journalists in 2016, deserves recognition and appreciation.

To honor the efforts and dedication of female journalists, Afghan Journalists Safety Committee (AJSC), on the occasion of March 8, International Women’s Day, is organizing events for female journalists in Kabul, Balkh, Nangarhar, Faryab, Samangan, and Jawzjan provinces of Afghanistan. In these events, AJSC awards more than 200 female journalists appreciation certificates, flowers, and diaries. The event in Nangarhar took place today, Kabul event will be organized on March 9 and the events in the remaining provinces will be held on the 11th of March. The events will be live streamed through AJSC’s Facebook page, Afghan Journalists Safety Committee.

As part of its mandate, AJSC attaches high importance to strengthening the standing and capabilities of women in Afghanistan’s media. To this end, AJSC has undertaken many initiatives; from appointing female coordinators in Kabul and provinces to facilitate a mechanism for addressing female journalists problems, to carrying out research studies, capacity building programs and advocacy efforts.

“Empowering and protecting female journalists are among the core organizational values of the Safety Committee and its staff. We believe empowered female journalists can play a crucial role in promoting women’s rights and exposing challenges women face, including violence against women that is so pervasive in Afghanistan. In the past 15 years, the relentless efforts of female journalists in highlighting violence against women have revealed incidences of violence against women from the remotest parts of the country”, said Najib Sharifi, Director of AJSC.

AJSC is Afghanistan’s premier journalists support organization, which works towards creating a safe working environment, and Somalia.

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