G7 must protect and evacuate journalists and media workers in Afghanistan

23 August 2021

Ahead of the G7 summit on the situation in Afghanistan, we, the undersigned organisations, call on G7 countries to make a clear and explicit commitment to taking journalists and media workers as an urgent and immediate priority, ensure their protection and evacuate them and their families.

We ask that G7 members:

1. Make an explicit commitment to evacuate all journalists, media workers and media advocates at risk, and their families.
2. Ease visa restrictions for all Afghan journalists, media workers, media advocates and their families seeking asylum.
3. Simplify and secure the process for visa application, and collaborate with third countries when possible.
4. Provide safe passage to and at the airport and other routes.
5. Remain in Kabul in order to secure the airport and the possibility to evacuate beyond the 31 August deadline.
6. Create an emergency fund for Afghan journalists and media workers.
7. Provide pathways for cash to enter in the country.
8. Repurpose development budget lines to address the emergency situation.
9. Coordinate efforts within the United Nations system for immediate support.
10. At the 26 August special session of the Human Rights Council, call for the establishment of an independent monitoring and investigative mechanism that is adequately staffed and resourced.

Full list of recommendations in ANNEX below.

Signed by:

International Media Support

ACOS Alliance

Alliance for Journalists’ Freedom

ARTICLE 19

Association of European Journalists (AEJ)

Association for International Broadcasting

Association of Freelance Journalists (Kenya)

Canadian Association of Journalists (CAJ)

Canadian Journalism Forum on Violence and Trauma

Canadian Journalists for Free Expression (CJFE)

Centre for Freedom of the Media (CFOM)

Committee to Protect Journalists

Coalition for Women in Journalism (CFWIJ)

Dart Centre Asia Pacific

Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma

DW Akademie, Deutsche Welle

English PEN

Ethnovision

European Broadcasting Union

European Centre for Press Media Freedom

European Federation of Journalists (EFJ)

Freedom House

Free Press Unlimited

The Frontline Club

The Frontline Freelance Register

Global Forum for Media Development (GFMD)

The GroundTruth Project

Guardian News and Media

Human Rights Watch

IFEX

International Center for Journalists (ICFJ)

International News Safety Institute (INSI)

International Women’s Media Foundation (IWMF)

International Federation of Journalists (IFJ)

International Press Institute (IPI)

Internews

James W. Foley Legacy Foundation

Journalists for Human Rights (JHR)

Maharat Foundation

Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA)

Overseas Press Club of America

Overseas Press Club Foundation

Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF)

PEN America

PEN Canada

PEN Club Français

PEN Germany

PEN Japan

PEN International

Public Media Alliance

Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting

Reporters Without Borders (RSF)

Rory Peck Trust

Samir Kassir Foundation

South African National Editors Forum (SANEF)

The Signals Network

Storyhunter

VII Agency

VII Foundation

Women Photograph

World Association of News Publishers (WAN-IFRA)

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