(Aug. 24, 2021) — As journalism educators in Canada, we, the undersigned, join with other advocates of global press freedom to urge the Canadian government and other nations around the world to act with extreme urgency to protect journalists and associated media workers of Afghanistan from persecution, imprisonment and violence in the wake of the Taliban takeover of that country.  

We endorse the efforts of Canadian news media and professional organizations, led by the Canadian Association of Journalists and Canadian Journalists for Free Expression, which issued a statement Aug. 20 pressing for an urgent and compassionate response from the Canadian government to the plight of Afghan journalists, support staff and their families: “They provided an essential service to Canadians and risked their lives in support of press freedom. We strongly urge the Government of Canada to help this group of loyal Afghans in their desperation.”

We also endorse a request made Aug. 18 by Reporters Without Borders/Reporters sans frontières for an “Arria formula” meeting of the UN Security Council “to discuss the situation of journalists and media in Afghanistan after the Taliban takeover in Kabul, and to draw up an emergency plan for Afghan journalism.”
While this request for UN action is under consideration, we strongly urge the Canadian government to do everything in its power — with the utmost speed and determination — to help evacuate and resettle Afghan journalists, media workers and their families.

The Reporters Without Borders request flows from the fact that the UN Security Council, “which adopted Resolution 1738 on the protection of journalists in 2006 and Resolution 2222 on the protection of journalists in 2015, can now play a decisive role in ensuring the protection of journalists and media in Afghanistan. Only a concerted response by governments can address the terrible challenge facing Afghan journalists and media workers today.”

Reporters Without Borders/ Reporters sans frontières further states that the informal Arria formula meeting of the UN Security Council “would open the discussion to government representatives, actors and experts and would allow governments attending the meeting to receive first-hand information from actors who are directly concerned, such as RSF. Leading Afghan journalists could also be invited to address the Council, and would have a chance to appeal for the survival of Afghan journalism.”

Regardless of the next steps taken by the UN Security Council in response to the RWB/RSF appeal, we strongly urge the Canadian government to act swiftly in response to the RWB/RSF’s proposed “Emergency Plan for Afghan Journalism,” a set of actions for the international community to address the rapidly unfolding crisis, including:
• Guarantees for the safety and protection of Afghan journalists and media wherever they may be;
• Help for journalists who want to leave Afghanistan, in particular, simplified procedures for obtaining visas and payment of travel costs;
• The creation of a fund to cover the immediate needs of Afghan journalists and media wherever they may be;
• Coordination and consultation with regard to the sustainability of Afghan media outlets and their possible transfer abroad, including to neighbouring countries;
• Assistance for Afghan organizations such as the Centre for the Protection of Afghan Women Journalists (CPAWJ) and the Afghan Journalists Safety Committee (AJSC).

Sincerely,

Christine Crowther (Carleton University),
Susan Harada (Carleton University),
Sarah Everts (Carleton University),
Janice Tibbetts (Carleton University),
Adrian Harewood (Carleton University),
Chris Waddell (Carleton University),
Allan Thompson (Carleton University),
Dave Tait (Carleton University),
Brett Popplewell (Carleton University),
Trish Audette-Longo (Carleton University),
Elly Alboim (Carleton University),
Nana aba Duncan (Carleton University),
Andrew Cohen (Carleton University),
Stéfy McKnight (Carleton University),
Aneurin Bosley (Carleton University),
Randy Boswell (Carleton University),
Matthew Pearson (Carleton University),
Fangliang Xu (Carleton University),
Papagena Robbins (Carleton University),
Mitch Diamantopoulos (School of Journalism, University of Regina),
Sally Haney (Journalism & Digital Media, Mount Royal University),
Brad Clark (Mount Royal University),
Archie McLean (Mount Royal University),
Dan Rowe (Humber College),
Paul Swanson (Journalism and Digital Media, Broadcast Media Studies, School of Communication Studies, Mount Royal University),
Kate Heartfield (Carleton University),
Terra Tailleur (University of King's College),
Kathryn Gretsinger (UBC School of Journalism, Writing and Media),
Avery Moore Kloss (Wilfrid Laurier University),
Kelly Pedro (Digital Media and Journalism/Wilfrid Laurier University),
David Meurer (Wilfrid Laurier University),
Bruce Gillespie (Digital Media and Journalism, Wilfrid Laurier University),
Kelly Patterson (Carleton University School of Journalism),
Alfred Hermida (School of Journalism, Writing, and Media, University of British Columbia),
Dwayne Winseck (School of Journalism and Communication, Carleton University),
Aphrodite Salas (Concordia University),
Elyse Amend (Department of Journalism, Concordia University),
Enn Raudsepp, Professor Emeritus (Concordia University Journalism Department),
Alan Conter (Journalism Department, Concordia University),
Nimo Bokore (Carleton University)
Gabrielle Brassard-Lecours (Journalism Department, Concordia University),
Aaron Goodman (Journalism Department, Kwantlen Polytechnic University),
Peter Klein (University of British Columbia),
Stephen J Knifton (Centennial college - Storyarts Campus),
Paul Gott (Concordia University Journalism Department),
Liam Maloney (Journalism Department/Concordia University),
Jean-Sébastien Marier (University of Ottawa and Carleton University),
Andrea Hunter (Department of Journalism, Concordia University),
Catherine Harrop (University of Kings College/Journalism Department),
Moira Farr (School of Journalism, Carleton University),
J.B. MacKinnon (University of British Columbia),
Kathryn O'Hara (Carleton University),
Janice Neil (School of Journalism, X University (Ryerson))