KABUL (SW) – A latest study by the Committee to Protect Journalists in Afghanistan indicate 18 percent decrease in the number of female journalists and media workers in the country’s media over the past six months.
The study findings indicate a deteriorating situation for journalists in Afghanistan.
The Committee to Protect Journalists said it has conducted this survey with the participation of more than 90% of active media outlets in 34 provinces. Findings from the survey showed that more than 300 women journalists and media workers have resigned or lost their jobs as a result of factors such as security threats, especially the recent targeted killings, financial problems of the media due to the outbreak of the corona virus and low pay.
The figures for the first six months of this solar year showed that there were 1678 women working in various media outlets across the country last year. But, that number has now dropped to 1,377 indicating a drop of some 18 percent.
Of the 1,377 women currently working in the media, 321 are journalists and the rest work in other media sectors, such as media production and administration.
According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, most female media workers are based in Kabul, followed by Herat and at third place was Balkh province. Logar is the only province where only one woman is involved in media activities.
According to the committee, in nine provinces, including Ghor, Nimroz, Sar-e-Pul, Laghman, Parwan, Kapisa, Uruzgan, Maidan Wardak and Logar, there are no female journalists and only few female media workers work in different departments.
In the other five provinces, which include Nuristan, Kunar, Paktia, Paktika and Zabul, there are no women in the media. According to the survey, in the last six months, two female journalists who previously worked in Zabul and Paktia provinces have resigned for security reasons.
During the current solar year, four female journalists and media workers have been targeted and killed in direct attacks, which has had a negative impact on women media workers across Afghanistan.
Concerned about the current situation, the Committee to Protect Journalists of Afghanistan said that the strong presence of women in the country’s media is one of the serious needs of free media.
ENDS
