Event: Safeguarding media in Afghanistan – The history of the Afghan Journalist Safety Committee

An introduction to a unique countrywide safety mechanism for journalists in Afghanistan

When: Monday, 2 May from 12:00 – 13:00

Where: Meeting room 21, Finlandia Hall, Mannerheimintie 13 e, 00100 Helsinki, Finland

The session, which is hosted by International Media Support (IMS), focuses on how and why to set up local safety mechanisms for media in war zones and countries in transition.

The Afghan Journalists Safety Committee (AFJC) is a locally led safety mechanism advised by a network of journalists, unions and civil society representatives and supported by IMS. To date, AJSC remains the only countrywide safety and protection mechanism in Afghanistan.

Regional safety coordinators in eight hubs and a number of volunteers manage an alert system, liaising with journalists under threat and providing updates on violations and changing circumstances for media to the AJSC headquarter in Kabul. Basic services include various types of trainings for both male and female journalists, legal advice, a 24/7 hotline, safe houses and a safety fund coupled with efforts to influence media law and other legal reforms through advocacy efforts.

International Media Support (IMS) and the Afghan Journalists Safety Committee (AJSC) have carried out safety related activities in Afghanistan since 2008 with a view to increase safety and protection of media workers by focusing on the female media workers and supporting the professionalisation of Afghan media.

AJSC’s work builds on a community based risk management method, tailored to the specific context in Afghanistan and IMS’s broad approach on safety training package. The aim is to create practical and durable solutions to journalists in danger, and establish strong provincial emergency and rapid response solutions in cooperation with the Human Rights Defenders (HDRs) and other relevant stakeholders.

IMS invites you also to take a look at the outcome of the IMS/AJSC’s photojournalism trainings – the exhibition “Faces and voices of the Afghan media workers” can be seen at the Finlandia Hall during the Word Press Freedom Day event.

The debate is organised by International Media Support (IMS). For more information, contact Susanna Inkinen, Media Advisor, International Media Support, si@mediasupport.org