Establishing Afghanistan’s Federation of Journalists (AFJ)
In the last four years, Afghan journalists’ associations, freedom of speech advocacy organizations and Afghan media organizations have been working to establish a coordinated umbrella body for the implementation of their programs and activities.
These efforts have resulted into the creation of an umbrella organization called “Afghanistan Federation of Journalists” or AFJ.
A total of nine organizations in the countryhave signed AFJ’sMemorandum of Understanding (MOU) so far. They are listed below. These organizations have agreed to carry out majority of their activities under AFJ’s umbrella. These organizations can also carry out their independent operations in areas where it is needed. Nevertheless, to the extent possible, such independent operations will be coordinated to meet with AFJ’s stipulated principles. Furthermore, these activities will notbe contrary to the pre-agreed clauses of AFJ.
As outlined in the MOU from AFJ, the primary objective of this umbrella organization is to support freedom of speech, free press, reporters and journalists rights and ensuring access to information in order to increase capacity and bring improvements to the Afghan media. In addition, our goal is to improve Afghan media laws and establish relations with international advocacy organizations for freedom of speech and those defending free press.
Wewill soon propose a two-year program whereby all concerns by of Afghan media organizations will be outlined and addressed.
AFJ will attempt to bring together all Afghan journalists and media workers under its umbrella in order to better position Afghan journalists to defend their rights of and further strengthen support for press freedom in the country.
AFJ has the capacity to bring togetherother Afghan journalists’ organizations and free press advocacy entities in Kabul and other provinces to work with its current membersand under its charter based on equal terms and responsibilities.
The following organizations and associations are founders of Afghanistan’s Federation of Journalists (AFJ)
- Afghanistan’s National Journalists Union
- National Union of Afghan reporters and Journalists
- Afghan Journalists Safety Committee
-South Asian Free Media Association SAFMA(Afghanistan)
- South Asian Women Media (Afghanistan)
-Afghan Female Journalists Association
- Free Media Association of Afghan Journalists
- Afghan Journalists Defense Committee
- Nai- Supporting free Media of Afghanistan
