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The Impact of Women on Media in Afghanistan

The Impact of Women on Media in Afghanistan
Shukria Barakzai, Editor Ayneh Zan, Member of Parliament

“My pen is on my loan; my thoughts are in my prison; my beliefs are hidden; my tongue is in my silence; my torch is in my darkness.”

One of the main post-Taliban achievements of Afghanistan was said initially to have been the freedom of speech as enshrined in the Constitution. However, to this day this basic freedom has been unable to assert its rightful place in society. Before it could come to fruition, this fledgling right was destroyed by political and economic misfortunes. Hundreds of press, radio and TV stations were initiated by local and international NGOs and organizations, but due to a total lack of Government planning and insight they all faced drastic decline. During the past few months the media have faced a barrage of attacks, threats, executions and imprisonments. Worst affected of all have been women in media. Despite all this none in the media family have stopped from trying. Media in Afghanistan need support in creating the right and effective legal framework for free journalism; they need support for bridging the information and news gap; and they need technical and financial support to assert their right to freedom of speech.

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