Journalists in Afghanistan need urgent protection: UN experts

By Peter Kenny

GENEVA (AA) - A group of UN human rights experts on Friday called on all nations to provide urgent protection to Afghan journalists and media workers who fear for their lives and are seeking safety abroad.

"Journalists and media workers, in particular women, are facing heightened risks since the Taliban's political takeover of Afghanistan," said a statement by three UN special rapporteurs on human rights.

The experts are Irene Khan, special rapporteur on the promotion and protection of freedom of expression; Fionnuala NíAoláin, special rapporteur on human rights while countering terrorism, and Clément Voule, special rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly.

The Taliban took power in Afghanistan last month, forcing President Ashraf Ghani and others to flee the country. Foreign troops and diplomats have also evacuated, taking along some Afghans who worked with Western missions.

The experts said the recent Human Rights Council resolution on Afghanistan "fails to address the specific risks faced by journalists and human rights defenders in the country."

They urged all governments to "take strong and swift action" to protect Afghan journalists by taking necessary steps including expediting visas and assisting with the evacuation of those who wish to leave Afghanistan.

The UN special rapporteurs called on the council to uphold its commitment and do more for the safety of journalists in Afghanistan.

"Reports of targeted killings of journalists and their family members, home raids, threats and intimidation in areas controlled by the Taliban have sharply increased in recent months," the statement said.

"The safety of journalists, women and men alike, human rights defenders, and gender equality activists must be a key consideration of their engagement on the human rights situation in Afghanistan."

The Taliban, on the other hand, have assured Afghan women that their rights would be protected within the confines of Islamic law and that they would be able to participate actively in society and pursue education.

The experts said the council should consider setting up an investigative and monitoring mechanism for accountability of all human rights violations, including reprisals and violence against journalists and media workers.