Freedom of the press and freedom of expression is the touchstone of all human rights and the backbone of our international value system and the key component in our daily dialogue with each other. However, around the world, the space for civic engagement is shrinking and we are witnessing outspoken critiques that emphasize a weakening of the freedom of the press and expression. At the same time violence against journalists and media workers remain a significant concern.

Afghanistan continues to build its future upon its ruins, one of the poorest countries in the world, where peace-building and state-building are intertwined, and where the country is facing violence which have lasted for several decades. However, despite facing substantial challenges, the Afghan Government is committed to change. “Self-reliance” and “mutual accountability” are key words in this regard and are framed in the “Self-Reliance through Mutual Accountability Framework” (SMAF) which is a commitment by the government of Afghanistan and the international community to work on identified reform priorities to ensure a more prosperous and secure future for the Afghan people. Among these priority areas are improvements with regards to anti-corruption, governance, rule of law and human rights. It is within this area that freedom of expressions and the media lies.

During the past 14 years Afghanistan has come a long way in strengthening freedom of expression. Much has been achieved, but much more needs to be done. The development of a vibrant media sector is regarded as one of the major achievements in recent years. Afghanistan ranks 122 out of 180 countries in the 2015 World Press Freedom Index and if compared to other South Asian countries, Afghanistan, is ranked in the middle. This already is an outstanding achievement compared to most countries in the region.

At the same time the security situation for journalists in Afghanistan has worsened, and particularly vulnerable are women claimed responsibility for the attack, which it described in a statement as “revenge” for “false allegations” made against the insurgent group. Ten days later, unidentified gunmen in Nangarhar province killed an Afghanistan National TV and Radio network reporter. This was followed by a series of threats against journalists in the area issued by a radio station linked to local insurgents. These are only a few examples of vicious attacks and threats against journalists that have taken place recently. From the start of 2016 until now, the highest numbers of killed and injured journalists and media workers over the last fifteen years were reported in Afghanistan.

Recent statistics from the Afghan Journalists Safety Committee, an independent monitoring body, also indicates that journalists continue to be threatened from all sides of the conflict. The most recent statistics reveal that threats and violence against journalists is also carried out by government officials and members of the security forces. Journalists are not part of the conflicts and should never be confused with combatants. It will be critical to investigate and, if appropriate, prosecute all incidents and leave no room for impunity.

The increase in security incidents also underscores the very importance of finding and end to the current violence which has caused a tremendous amount of suffering, not the least among Afghan civilians. A political solution is the only viable option. The EU supports the government’s efforts to initiate a peace and reconciliation process.

The Afghan government has made some important steps to strengthen freedom of expression and the protection of media workers by a by-law on Establishment and Activity of Private Mass Media. The decree commits the government to expediting investigations of journalists killed since 2002 and to make the results of these inquiries public. The EU looks forward to follow its implementation and encourages the Afghan government to continue investigate attacks on journalists and prosecutes those implicated.

The EU also welcomes the efforts made by the Afghan Government to ensure the country’s citizens the right to access information. However, more needs to be done. With increased transparency and accountability government institutions will be further strengthened and become more effective.

What is at stake for Afghanistan is to instill hope to its war-torn citizens and a vision for the future. In this regard Afghan journalists and media organizations are a vital resource with a significant role. The EU and its Member States and the Kingdom of Norway would like to commend the efforts made by the women and men that constitute Afghanistan’s media society. With their courageous and admirable work they are all key to the further development of a vibrant, pluralistic and democratic society in Afghanistan.

Freedom of the press and freedom of expression are fundamental rights of every Afghan citizen and of any free society around the world and it is strongly supported by the EU and its Member States and the Kingdom of Norway.

View expressed in this article are of the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Pajhwok’s editorial policy.

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