Document details

The Freedom Frontier: Press Freedom in South Asia 2014-15

New Delhi: International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) Asia-Pacific (2015), 113 pp.

Contains illustrations

"The year under review in this report (May 2014 to April 2015) shows that journalists and media workers remain victims and, too often, targets in the deadly power struggles on which that they report. Within this time period, 14 journalists lost their lives, mostly in targeted attacks. Pakistan was the world’s most deadly country for journalists, while Afghanistan experienced heightened levels of violence and a spike in journalist killings leading up to and after the country’s protracted presidential election. Bangladesh has also carved a bloody name as a deadly arena for journalists, particularly for those operating in the online space. The year witnessed a rise in religious extremists in Bangladesh brutally murdering and targeting journalists and bloggers in their homes and on the street. The digital realm is the newest frontier of conflict for press freedom but it also presents tremendous opportunities for informing, connecting with audiences and in harnessing regional solidarity and action. This report explores some of the battles won, such as the concerted campaign and victory that rid India of the of the controversial Section 66A of the Information Technology (IT) Act, and some of the mighty battles ahead to stop new laws and censorship that inhibit the flow of information." (Foreword, page 3-4)
1 Foreword 3
2 Overview 5
3 Impunity: Nepal -- Sri Lanka -- Pakistan, 11
4 Capsule Reports: Conflict Zones, 24
5 Gender & Media, 42
6 Afghanistan, 54
7 Bangladesh, 59
8 Bhutan, 65
9 India, 69
10 The Maldives, 80
11 Nepal, 84
12 Pakistan, 90
13 Sri Lanka, 97
14 Annexure: List of Media Rights Violations, May 2014 to April 2015, 104