Media seminar in Afghanistan

In September 2002 the Trust co-hosted the first International media seminar in Kabul to promote free media.

It was a remarkable moment. The tiny figure of a girl, dressed head to foot in black, stepped forward between the throng of assembled delegates to the front of the ballroom in Kabul's Intercontinental Hotel to ask the moderator if she could address the seminar.

Her request granted, she stood on a chair to reach the microphone. Then she spoke to the journalists gathered there, the NGO representatives and the panel of speakers who included Afghanistan's deputy Minister of Information and Culture, in a clear voice of her hopes for the future.

Holding a single copy of a black and white magazine that she and her two sisters had pasted up at home, nine-year-old Zubaida Akber said that she wanted to be able to distribute 100 copies of her magazine to children.

As the hall erupted in applause, newspaper editor, Yaseen Nazeemi, rose to offer to print the sisters' magazine.

Moments later a ministerial aide rushed across the hall and handed Deputy Minister of Information and Culture, Abdul Hamid Mubarez, a telephone with the news that a bomb blast in a crowded shopping street in central Kabul had caused many casualties.

Pledge for an independent media

It was in this atmosphere of hope, courage and uncertainty that Afghanistan's Ministry of Information and Culture endorsed a Declaration in favour of an independent and pluralistic media in Afghanistan.

The Declaration recognises that Afghanistan must have new laws to protect and promote the media and enable it to play an important role in making the government open, transparent and accountable and giving all members of society a voice.

The document has as its goals laws which will promote freedom of expression and protect the rights of journalists. It calls on the international community to continue to provide assistance in promoting the development of an independent, pluralistic media in Afghanistan.

The seminar

The government's pledge to support the Declaration was given on the final day of a three day seminar held in Kabul from 3-5th September. The seminar, sponsored by BBC World Service Trust, UNESCO, Internews and the Baltic Media Centre, was hosted by the Afghan Ministry of Information and Culture.

The three days consisted of comments from invited speakers, questions from the floor, and briefing sessions focussing on five areas including a regulatory media framework and the role of an independent media in Afghanistan. Over one hundred Afghan and international participants attended, including NGOs, to develop policies into an integrated strategic plan for the reconstruction and development of Afghanistan's media.

Earlier this year, BBC World Service Trust was invited by the Afghan government to advise on a blueprint for a framework for an independent sector in Afghanistan and carried out this work with the help of a senior editor who acted as a consultant to the government.

“Less than a year ago, Afghanistan's media was beset by harsh restrictions imposed by the Taliban. Afghans are a uniquely sophisticated audience. During 23 years of war people came to rely on international broadcasters such as BBC World Service for accurate news of what was happening.

Afghanistan's transitional government has recognised the vital role of an independent press which is representative of all society", said Behrouz Afagh, BBC World Service regional editor who was the consultant working on the project.

Protection of journalists

The international community has welcomed the Declaration. In a letter from the Committee to Protect Journalists to the Afghan President, Hamid Karzai, the Committee said that although it remains concerned about the threat of violence by military commanders and others against journalists, it was also encouraged by the government's pledge.

“The Committee to Protect Journalists is encouraged by the pledges your Excellency and officials from the Ministry of Information and Culture made committing the interim administration to work toward guaranteeing press freedom in Afghanistan,” the Committee said.

The Declaration

The Declaration follows a Policy Declaration on 6th June by the Transitional Government which embraced the vision of a free and independent press and a public service broadcasting system to replace the state owned radio and television station.