International Organizations Highlight Press Freedom Challenges on World Press Freedom Day

International organizations marked World Press Freedom Day on Saturday by issuing coordinated statements warning of a global decline in media independence and highlighting severe restrictions on journalists in Afghanistan.

The European Union released a statement declaring that democracy cannot function without press freedom, while condemning violence against media workers worldwide. The bloc noted that 2025 was the deadliest year on record for journalists and criticized authoritarian regimes, specifically citing Iran. UNESCO emphasized that reliable, independent journalism remains essential for building peaceful societies, maintaining social cohesion, and fostering public trust.

Reporters Without Borders reported that global media outlets face mounting pressures from censorship, political interference, and funding shortages that have forced numerous closures. In Afghanistan, UN Special Rapporteur Richard Bennett warned that journalists continue to operate under severe conditions, with female media workers facing disproportionate restrictions and threats.

Since the Taliban returned to power, widespread media restrictions have led to multiple arrests. Four journalists—Bashir Hatef, Shakib Nazari, Hamid Farhadi, and Abuzar Sarem—remain in detention. The Afghanistan Journalists Center recorded at least one hundred fifty violations of press freedom in the country over the past year. Advocacy groups and UN officials have repeatedly noted that female journalists face significant barriers to their professional work, including gender-based violence and institutional restrictions.

International bodies and press freedom advocates used the annual observance to call for the protection of media workers, the release of detained journalists, and the restoration of independent reporting environments globally and within Afghanistan.