Empowering Media: Tajikistan's Civil Society's Bold Move to Safeguard Journalistic Freedom
Tajikistan, currently positioned 153 out of 180 in the ‘2023 World Press Freedom Index’ experienced a notable drop on its ranking in 2016 following a constitutional amendment, which reduced the number of lawyers in the country by half. This reduction severely restricted access to justice, leading to diminished legal awareness and widespread checks on media content by public authority. This is fostering an alarming lack of accountability in Tajikistan’s media landscape.
In response, UNDEF supported a program led by the Association of Public Advisors of the Republic of Tajikistan (APART), to improve legal clarity in the country. The project, which was implemented from April 2021 to March 2023 worked to enhance the legal literacy of journalists by educating them on national and international media legislation and equipping them with knowledge of mechanisms to safeguard their rights and interests within the legal framework. This encompassed understanding rights related to "freedom of speech," the prohibition of checks on media content by public authorities, and strategies to safely eliminate "self-censorship."
The project held three trainings attended by 20 lawyers each in key regions of Dushanbe, Khujand town, and Bokhtar town. Following each session, media lawyers offered legal counsel to 720 journalists collectively. This group of lawyers convened four times to analyze existing media regulations and case studies, producing a comprehensive multi-action plan to provide legal advice to journalists.
In parallel efforts to bolster media transparency and advocacy, the program established hotlines to swiftly address public or media professional queries concerning their legal rights. Moreover, a dedicated website was launched, serving as a central repository for project information, , hotline contacts, event updates, a section on Tajik legislation, and information on internship opportunities for young journalists created by the project. Additionally, lawyers from the project have litigated 10 cases on behalf of journalists in the country.
These collective initiatives reinforced legal knowledge, advocated transparency, and empowered media professionals within Tajikistan's evolving media landscape.
