On 3rd May, UNESCO, UNDP, Afghanistan Ministry of Information and Culture and Afghanistan Journalists Federation jointly celebrated the World Press Freedom Day under the global theme “Safe to Speak: Securing Freedom of Expression in All Media”. More than 150 journalists, senior government representatives and members of the international community attended the Kabul observance of the 2013 World Press Freedom Day. The launch in Kabul was led by the Afghan Deputy Minister of Information and Culture, Mr. Din Mohammad Mobarez Rashidi, Ms. Hela Hershad, Member of Parliament, President of the Education, Culture and Religion Commission, Ms Massoumeh Torfeh, Director, Strategic Communication and Spokespersons Unit, UNAMA, Mr. Alvaro Rodriguez, UNDP Country Director, and Mr. Paolo Fontani, UNESCO Representative to Afghanistan.
A joint message by Mr Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations, and Ms. Irina Bokova, Director General of UNESCO, delivered by Mr. Paolo Fontani, Head of UNESCO Afghanistan, stated that “on this World Press Freedom Day, we call on governments, societies and individuals to do their utmost to protect the safety of all journalists, offline and online. Everyone has a voice; all must be able to speak freely and in safety”.
The role of Press Freedom is crucial to Afghanistan’s preparations for the presidential elections of 2014, saying press freedom, security of journalists and the right to obtain information would be among the most meaningful channels to a democratic and transparent leadership transition.
Every year, 3rd May, is celebrated as World Press Freedom Day. World Press Freedom Day, which has only been celebrated since 1993, has much deeper roots in the United Nations: Article 19 of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights states: "Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers."
Although Afghanistan had made remarkable achievements in the field of media, journalists continued to face daily threats, intimidation and arrests that undermined their ability to operate professionally. Over the past 45 days alone, the Afghan media watchdog, NAI, has reported 16 cases of violence against journalists. Two of the cases were armed violence, one claimed by anti-government forces and the other by unknown elements.
The Press, as identified with Newspapers, wields immense power in a democratic society. So great is its influence that some have called it the Fourth Estate. Napoleon used to say— "Your hostile newspapers are more to be feared than a thousand bayonets." For, the press forms opinions, shapes movements and controls policies through well-informed criti¬cism.
The most powerful autocrat is forced to take note of public opinion as reflected in a free press. That is why a regimented press is the instrument of autocracy, and a dictator deprives the press of its freedom.
A free press is the symbol of a free people. An independent, well-informed press is a powerful check on arbitrary governments and irresponsible administrators. For newspapers are agents of the public, which bring to the notice of the people acts of injustice or oppression, or mal-administration that would otherwise have remained hidden away from public knowledge? They exercise a constant vigilance on the rulers, which is salutary for all.
The most important ingredient of democracy is the existence of free and fearless press. In a democracy, the press must enjoy complete freedom and should not be subjected to any restriction. The voice of the press is the voice of the people. Censoring the press means the suppression of people’s voice. So the very survival of democracy inevitably depends on the freedom of the press.
The press plays a very positive and constructive role in a democracy. It keeps the people informed of the national and international news and happenings. It brings to the notice of people the programs, policies and activities of the government. Similarly, it keeps the government in the know of the people’s problems, difficulties, hopes and aspirations. Thus the press plays a dual role. It serves as a bridge between the government on the one hand and the people on the other.
In despondent societies like Afghanistan when it comes to disclosure of fraudulent and corruption of elected parliamentarians or public officials a despotic attitude awaits the fate of the journalists. Afghanistan is one the most unsafe country for journalists. During the Afghan presidential election, 2009 there were reports of attacks on press freedom by influential personalities seeking for desired outcome. Due to instability in Afghanistan, journalists have been as highly targeted as shown by instances of kidnapping and death threats both by government and armed oppositions.
Afghanistan has a low readership of newspapers, coupled with the low 28.1% literacy rate. Many newspapers suffer some form of censorship and financial difficulty. 24 journalists were killed in 2012 and large numbers put to barricade on flawed accusation, a deliberate intervention with free flow of information and violation of right to freedom of expression, freedom of thought and freedom of movement.
The press is the defender and the protector of the rights and liberties of the people. But it can perform this role only if it enjoys freedom in publishing news, views and reporting. It can function effectively only in an open society, where decisions are made in a democratic manner.
The press should never shirk from its responsibility. It should always act like an impartial judge. It should criticise the Government for its acts of omission and commission and pat its back for any worthwhile achievement. The press should not be scared of influential people. The press should consider it their duty to protect the right of the workers and other downtrodden sections of the people.
The constitutional provision and 2004 media law prohibits censorship, nevertheless Afghan government didn’t gave up an apparent attempt at railroading through a less than media friendly new Mass Media Law without consultation. The new law’s draft ascribed Media Supreme Council that would set editorial policy would be chaired by the Minister of Information and Culture, an alarming direction that would let the government restricts media activities, especially those of news channels. The draft intended to restrict the ability of media to debate or report on areas such as national security and religion. The government could hand down punishment for any report or talk show which it might not like, using national security as an excuse. The draft law still awaits the parliamentary approval. It is feared that after 2014 pull out, a greater degree of restraints might be enacted in the new media law.