Government urged to improve access to information for the media

Marking International Day for Universal Access to Information, a number of media advocates on Wednesday called on the government to do more to ensure this right in the country.

At an event organized in Kabul to celebrate the day, advocates also urged government to set up a commission on access to information.

“The purpose of the event is to call for reactivation of access to information commission like how it was in the past, and every institution should be responsible to give information to journalists,” said Ali Akbar Asghari, a member of Afghanistan Journalists Federation.

Some journalists complained about lack of access to information. They mentioned challenges they face while making reports especially at the scene of incidents.

“When we go out to make a report, IEA forces create problems or ask us to provide a letter from the Interior Ministry or police HQ,” said Sayed Omar Sahak, a journalist.

“The government’s spokesmen don’t cooperate well with the journalists, and they don’t give first-hand information to local journalists,” said Abdullah Azizi, a journalist.

IEA reiterated that it is committed to ensuring freedom of speech, and said that the recently concluded government accountability program was evidence of the commitment to right to access information.

“Fortunately, we haven’t had any journalist deaths since IEA took over. IEA is committed to ensuring the rights of journalists and media persons, and it fully supports freedom of speech and media activities,” said Bilal Karimi, deputy spokesman of IEA.