Issue
In Pakistan, national and provincial legislation has been enacted to ensure the safety of journalists and media professionals; however, the implementation of these laws remains ineffective and inconsistent.
How we are helping
This project aims to support government efforts by promoting stronger implementation of the new legal framework and advocating for the adoption of similar legal protections in the remaining three provinces of Pakistan.
About the project
To ensure safety of journalists and media professionals, the Government of Pakistan and the Sindh Provincial Assembly enacted the Protection of Journalists and Media Professionals Act and the Sindh Protection of Journalists and Other Media Professionals Act respectively; however, the implementation of these laws remains ineffective and inconsistent.
Project partner, Pakistan Press Foundation, will work with journalists, human rights activists, law enforcement agencies, political leaders, and government officials at the national and provincial levels to promote stronger implementation of the new legal framework.
This will be achieved by:
- conducting consultations with key stakeholders at the national level and in Sindh to identify gaps and opportunities for improving the implementation of existing legislation, including recommending practical tools and steps for effective enforcement
- holding consultative meetings with provincial stakeholders in Balochistan, Kyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab to advocate for the introduction and passage of media safety in provinces currently lacking such legal frameworks
- raising public awareness through local and national media broadcasts on laws affecting media safety and free expression to create an enabling environment for implementing the legislation
- training journalists on the existing legal framework and the underlying factors that contribute to violence against the media, with the aim of encouraging the publication of media safety related stories
- undertaking international advocacy by submitting information on media safety and freedom of expression in Pakistan to international human rights mechanisms, including the Universal Periodic Review (UPR).
As a result of this project, it is hoped that the safety of journalists and media professionals in Sindh province is improved and that similar legal protections are developed in Balochistan, Kyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab provinces.
Project Partners
Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF) is an independent, non-governmental media documentation and training centre dedicated to promoting and defending freedom of expression. PPF aims to build a strong network of journalists and media professionals across Pakistan to document and respond to violations against the press, thereby enabling more effective monitoring and advocacy for press freedom. In addition to defending media rights, PPF works to raise journalistic standards, foster greater awareness of social and development issues, and promote research on mass communication in Pakistan. Through its initiatives, PPF contributes to strengthening both national and international efforts to safeguard freedom of expression.
We support people's participation in democracy and development by providing grants, platforms, and expertise.
