Digital Rights Foundation unveils 6-point agenda on media freedom, journalist safety ahead of general elections

With the general elections in Pakistan drawing closer, Digital Rights Foundation (DRF), an NGO focusing on ICTs to support democracy and digital governance, has unveiled a 6-point agenda on media freedom and journalist safety.

The agenda aims to promote a safe and inclusive environment for media freedom in Pakistan. It comprises of six comprehensive points, ranging from freedom of expression to ensuring digital accessibility for journalists.

The key points of DRF’s agenda have been summarized as:

1- Amend and Ensure Effective Implementation of the Protection of Journalists and Media Professionals Act, 2021: This amendment seeks to improve journalistic freedom by clarifying ambiguous language, deleting clauses that might result in journalist prosecution, extending the complaint filing deadline to 30 days, and improving openness in investigation procedures.

2- Ensure Freedom of Expression and Media Access: Protect journalists’ access to information, resist censorship that violates electronic crimes laws, maintain compliance with RTI legislation and international rights obligations, and protect bloggers and influencers from threats or maltreatment.

3- Ensure Safety and Protection: Protect journalists’ freedom of speech on social media, ensure safety, support human rights principles in any legal proceedings, respond to online abuse against female journalists swiftly.

4- Implement Media Industry Reforms: Ensure the safety of media staff, particularly women, via legal protection, gender sensitization training, address workplace difficulties, and avoid biased media reporting by minimizing the influence of media houses and political parties.

5- Ensure Digital Accessibility and Inclusion: Remove barriers to journalistic coverage, address the effect of internet outages, invest in varied content infrastructure, and put mechanisms in place to prevent harassment and discrimination to ensure inclusive opportunities in media.

6- Uphold Data and Protection: Implement the Personal Data Protection Bill 2023, create the National Commission for Personal Data Protection with strict penalties, and fix ambiguous definitions in the Pakistan Electronic Crimes Act.

DRF also urges political parties to include the digital rights agenda in their electoral manifestos, ensuring that their stance on digital rights are consistent with both national legislation and international human rights obligations.