Freedom of speech and expression

The global human rights watchdog said that Afghanistan now faces one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, exacerbated by donor governments’ aid cuts and the return of 1.9 million refugees expelled from Iran and Pakistan. 

Terming forced religious conversion and forced marriage of Christian and Hindu minor girls to older Muslim men as the most concerning issue, the report notes that there are few legal options available to the victims.

In a strongly worded statement issued on July 2, the Lahore-based HRCP warned that recent efforts by authorities to block its public events and intimidate staff represent an unprecedented assault on its mission since the organisation was founded in 1987.

Drawing on a year-long consultation process with civil society, journalists, human rights defenders, electoral officials, and social media companies, Khan identified three intersecting trends that are accelerating the crisis.

A Kuensel article published on March 29 titled “State of Private Newspapers: Cash Strapped, Dependent on Government Support” – an ostensibly analytical piece that questioned the sustainability of private newspapers and raised eyebrows about their dependence on a government-backed subsidy called the Media Enterprise Development Budget.

This decision stems from Greenpeace’s involvement in protests against the pipeline, which began in 2016 and drew global attention to Indigenous rights and environmental protection.

To ensure ethical standards and accountability in media reporting, the commission advocates for the creation of an independent regulatory body. This entity would oversee media practices, addressing issues such as misinformation and unethical journalism.