Afghanistan Journalists Center on Friday said Kabul has announced its support to the new United Nations General Assembly resolution on the safety of journalists and the issue of impunity. 

The center said Kabul has joined the countries which support and co-sponsor the new resolution based on which the supporting countries are obliged to stop the issue of impunity over violence against journalists and perpetrators of such crimes. 

“The pressures are ongoing on journalists from different channels or they are under secret follow ups. According to the new resolution, these acts should end by countries which are supporting the resolution,” said Ahmad Hunaish, an advisor to AFJC said. 

Meanwhile, Nai, an organizations supporting open media in Afghanistan, said government has not delivered its commitments to journalists.

NAI statistics show that so far 1,194 cases of violence against journalists have been registered, of which government has addressed and investigated 40 cases. 

“When government signs national and international orders, the important thing is that to what extent the orders will be implemented. Right now, we have Article 34 of the Constitution on supporting freedom of expression and Article 52 of the Constitution on access to information, but these articles have not been implemented by government,” said Mujib Khelwatgar, head of NAI. 

Meanwhile, a number of Afghan journalists said government has failed to ensure the safety of journalists and media workers while it has always talked about supporting freedom of expression and open media. 

“In the last 17 years, government has often talked about paying more attention to journalists, but in we mostly lost journalists in recent terrorist attacks,” said Lida Darwish, a reporter. 

“Journalists from are faced with threats by terrorist groups and meanwhile government puts pressure on them,” said Faridullah Sadat, a reporter. 

So far, Afghanistan and 81 other countries have announced their support to the new United National resolution on safety of journalists and the issue of impunity. 

The resolution was announced on 13 November 2017 by the United Nations General Assembly to protect journalists against crimes and to stop the use of right of impunity from those who have committed violent crimes against reporters.