NAI: Access to information law main problem of journalism in Afghanistan

The Afghanistan Media Support Organization, NAI says that not implementing the access to information law is one of the major problems of journalism in Afghanistan.

NAI noted that Afghan residents need security information for their impunity but as the National Unity Government (NUG) formed restriction have been established against journalism.

“The main problem is the lack of information and one of the main factors of violence against journalist is also the lack of information,” Mujib Khelwatgar, CEO of NAI said.

For the first time in Afghan history, citizens and journalists get access to information through state institutions, after president Ghani has signed the new Access to Information Law on December 2014.

The law approved in 6 chapters and 32 articles that deliver Afghans unprecedented transparency in the state institutions.

“People need information because impunity of people needs security information,” Khelwatgar added.

The law lives up to international standards and will have major effects in limiting corruption, localizing democracy and strengthening the people’s political and social participation in state building.

People will gain access to state and public budgets, and official spokespeople will be inclined to share information with journalists and citizens.

Previously, statistics indicated that violence against journalists in Afghanistan was increased by NUG officials compared to the former government.

Historically, the government of Afghanistan has been marked by a lack of transparency, with only a vague – and thus far unenforced – reference in its decade-old constitution to the guaranteed right to access to information.

The access to information law covers non-governmental organizations and the private sector.