British Ambassador to Afghanistan, Ms Alison Blake’s op-ed on International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists :

Today is International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists. It is a day to reflect on the danger and insecurity faced by journalists in Afghanistan and to pay tribute to the bravery and commitment of all who provide the vibrant media in Afghanistan. On this day, I would like to highlight the UK’s strong support to the people of Afghanistan’s right to a free and independent media.

The media and journalists are under attack in many places across the globe where free speech is threatened. Freedom of expression and a free media are the lifeblood of any democracy. The Afghan media is without doubt one of the great successes of post-2001 Afghanistan. It is vibrant and flourishing across the country and on radio, television and print. Afghan journalists have shown themselves, brave, capable, committed to intelligent comment and debate and, most importantly, trusted by the public. I have seen for myself the desire of the people of Afghanistan to be free to express themselves, engage in constructive debate and make their voices heard.

In Afghanistan, the toll from decades of conflict has been heavy and is continuing to claim precious lives. The threats to journalists posed by groups such as the Taliban and Islamic State Khorasan Province are real and deadly. Last year at least 15 brave journalists were killed for doing their job and so far this year five have lost their lives.  Afghanistan remains high on the list for countries with unsolved journalist murders as it is sixth on the Committee to Protect Journalists’ Global Impunity Index.

In June this year, the Taliban made its abhorrent threat against the Afghan media when it called them ‘military targets’ and warned that “reporters and staff members will not remain safe”. This appalling attack on Afghanistan’s press shows how little the Taliban have understood the place in people’s lives of a free media. Journalists are not a military target. Attacks on journalists are attacks on democracy itself and it underscored how precious its preservation must be whether that is the personal safety of journalists and the media as well as the safeguarding of freedom of expression in any peace process and political settlement with the Taliban.

Despite the especial challenges facing women journalists, there are many extraordinary and inspiring women reporters, news anchors and campaigners in Afghanistan who are fighting for their rightful place in the profession and leading the way for other women. They have our full support too, and we are proud to call for them to be allowed to continue to develop and flourish in the career they have chosen.

The UK is committed to defending media freedom. We are leading a global campaign to shine a spotlight on this issue and to raise the cost to those abusing it. We recently launched the Media Freedom Coalition, a group of 32 countries, who have made a Global Pledge to work together to champion media freedom in international fora and lobby on individual cases. We have also set up a Global Media Defence Fund, to be administered by our partner UNESCO, to support, train and provide legal support for journalists in the most dangerous part of the world. The UK has committed £3 million and Canada £1 million to the fund over the next three years.

The UK Foreign Secretary’s Special Envoy on Media Freedom, Amal Clooney, has convened an independent High Level Panel of Legal Experts on Media Freedom who will provide specialist advice and recommendations for legal and other mechanisms that protect and encourage the functioning of a free media and prevent reverse abuses or violations of media freedom. As a panel, they will draw up model laws and offer help to governments to repeal outdated legislation. And here in Afghanistan in the British Embassy we have launched projects worth over £250,000 to help improve protection of journalists, access to information and support female citizen-journalists. 

I applaud the steps taken by the Afghan government to address the safety of Afghan journalists and impunity for attacks against them. I urge the government to continue to do all in its power to protect journalists and to ensure there is no impunity for those who attack them. Attacks on journalists by security forces, or militia must also be stopped – no form of intimidation is unacceptable. Families who have lost loved ones deserve justice.

In the face of these challenges the commitment of the journalists of Afghanistan is impressive and inspiring. Their role in holding the powerful to account, exposing corruption and demanding transparency is at the heart of a strong democracy. They hold up a mirror to a nation and to the world. The people of Afghanistan can be proud of their journalists and should cherish freedom of expression. Other countries in the region can learn from Afghanistan’s open and free media. It is for the Afghan people to decide the future of their country, but as your partner, the UK will continue to do all we can to defend a free and independent media able to speak truth to power and make the Afghan people’s voices heard.

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