The United Nations emphasizes that journalists should be able to report freely and “without fear or discrimination” across the world, May 3 marks World Press Freedom Day.
On this occasion, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said that the freedom of the people is tied to the freedom of the press, and that journalists should be able to report “without fear or discrimination” throughout the world.
He added that journalism is increasingly under threat, and journalists face risks such as attacks, arrests, censorship, violence, and even death.
“World Press Freedom Day stands as a crucial reminder of the essential role journalists and media play in Afghanistan. They are the foundation of an informed and vibrant society, and their role must be protected,” said Roza Otunbayeva, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General in Afghanistan.
“A diverse and healthy media sector is indispensable in ensuring transparency, public trust, and good governance. But in Afghanistan we are seeing the steady erosion of a free and independent media,” said Otunbayeva.
Afghanistan’s media sector has been hit by a sharp decline in revenue linked to the country’s economic crisis, which has forced numerous outlets to close.
Afghanistan is also not immune to the challenges brought by the rapid advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AI), the theme for 2025’s World Press Freedom Day commemorations.
“AI presents significant risks: it can be misused to reproduce misinformation, spread disinformation, amplify hate speech, enable new forms of censorship and surveillance of journalists and citizens, creating a chilling effect on freedom of expression,” said UNESCO Representative in Afghanistan, Patricia McPhillips.
“This means national and international cooperation is all the more essential,” said McPhillips.
sa/ma
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