Women journalists among the most at-risk populations in Afghanistan
Right now, women journalists in Afghanistan are among the most at-risk populations in the country for reasons of revenge, retribution, and long-standing prejudice against their voices in any public arena. With the Taliban targeting the press and the equality of women, the lives of these media workers are also among the most imperiled in the world.
The International Women’s Media Foundation supports all measures to ensure the safety of women journalists and media workers attempting to evacuate Afghanistan. The IWMF also calls on all governments worldwide to open their borders and include media workers in any humanitarian visa offerings available.
‘By erasing the autonomy and identity of women and girls in the country, the Taliban is attempting to silence half of the country’s population — permanently and without mercy’, said Elisa Lees Munoz, IWMF’s Executive Director.
The IWMF is the only organization that offers emergency support, safety training, global reporting opportunities and funding for both staff reporters and freelancers, all specifically tailored for women. If you want to help them support women journalists in Afghanistan, their donation link is here.
Earlier this year several women journalists were killed in the country.
“The targeted killing of journalists could cause a state of fear in the journalistic community, and this could lead to self-censorship, abandonment of media activities, and even leaving the country,” Mujib Khalwatgar, head of Afghan media advocacy group Nai, said at that time.
Enikas TV said the channel had employed ten women but four had been killed. According to official announcement, three women media workers were been shot dead in the eastern Afghan city of Jalalabad.
Zalmai Latifi, head of local broadcaster Enikas TV, told Reuters the three women were recent high school graduates aged between 18 and 20 who worked in the station’s dubbing department.
The official announcement said the women were killed on their way home from work. A fourth woman was seriously injured.
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