Ahead of the G7 summit on the situation in Afghanistan, we, the undersigned organizations, call on G7 countries to make a clear and explicit commitment to taking journalists and media workers as an urgent and immediate priority, ensure their protection and evacuate them and their families.
We ask that G7 members:
- Make an explicit commitment to evacuate all journalists, media workers and media advocates at risk, and their families
- Ease visa restrictions for all Afghan journalists, media workers, media advocates and their families seeking asylum
- Simplify and secure the process for visa application, and collaborate with third countries when possible
- Provide safe passage to and at the airport and other routes
- Remain in Kabul in order to secure the airport and the possibility to evacuate beyond the August 31 deadline
- Create an emergency fund for Afghan journalists and media workers
- Provide pathways for cash to enter in the country
- Repurpose development budget lines to address the emergency situation
- Coordinate efforts within the United Nations system for immediate support
- At the 26 August special session of the Human Rights Council, call for the establishment of an independent monitoring and investigative mechanism that is adequately staffed and resourced
[Read the full list of recommendations]
Signed by:
ACOS Alliance
ARTICLE 19
Association of European Journalists (AEJ)
Association for International Broadcasting
Association of Freelance Journalists (Kenya)
Canadian Journalism Forum on Violence and Trauma
Canadian Journalists for Free Expression (CJFE)
Centre for Freedom of the Media (CFOM)
Committee to Protect Journalists
Dart Centre Asia Pacific
Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma
DW Akademie, Deutsche Welle
English PEN
Ethnovision
European Broadcasting Union
European Centre for Press Media Freedom
European Federation of Journalists (EFJ)
Freedom House
Free Press Unlimited
The Frontline Club
The Frontline Freelance Register
Global Forum for Media Development (GFMD)
The GroundTruth Project
Guardian News and Media
IFEX
International Center for Journalists (ICFJ)
International Media Support
International News Safety Institute (INSI)
International Women’s Media Foundation (IWMF)
International Federation of Journalists (IFJ)
International Press Institute (IPI)
Internews
James W. Foley Legacy Foundation
Maharat Foundation
Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA)
Overseas Press Club of America
Overseas Press Club Foundation
Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF)
PEN America
PEN Canada
PEN Germany
PEN Japan
PEN International
Public Media Alliance
Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting
Reporters Without Borders (RSF)
Rory Peck Trust
Samir Kassir Foundation
The Signals Network
Storyhunter
VII Agency
VII Foundation
Women Photograph
World Association of News Publishers (WAN-IFRA)