KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – Radio continues to serve as the most vital and trusted medium for delivering news, education, and information to millions of Afghans, particularly in remote and rural areas, the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) said on World Radio Day.
In a video message released Friday, February 13, UNAMA Acting Head Georgette Gagnon highlighted radio’s enduring role, saying that for over a century it has been a reliable tool for awareness, education, and communication across the country.
Despite the rise of new technologies, Gagnon stressed that public trust still rests on the human voice and the professionalism of journalists, presenters, and broadcasters.
She praised the resilience of radio staff and media workers operating under difficult conditions and reaffirmed the United Nations’ solidarity with them.
World Radio Day, observed annually on February 13, was proclaimed by UNESCO in 2011 and endorsed by the UN General Assembly in 2012. This year’s theme, “Radio and Artificial Intelligence,” highlights the growing role of technology in media innovation, while underscoring that ethical and responsible use of AI must complement, not replace, human reporting.
The European Union mission in Afghanistan also marked the occasion, posting on X that radio reaches remote villages inaccessible to other outlets and plays a key role in informing and empowering communities. The EU reiterated its backing for independent, educational media, with particular emphasis on access for women and girls.
Radio has a long history in Afghanistan, with broadcasts beginning in 1927, and it remains one of the most widely used and effective media formats in the country. With low-cost access and the ability to operate without internet or electricity, radio continues to be essential for disseminating news, cultural programs, and educational content, particularly in rural and isolated areas.
However, press freedoms have deteriorated significantly since the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021. The regime has imposed sweeping restrictions on journalists and media outlets, including radio stations, resulting in the closure of many networks. According to the Afghanistan Journalists Center (AFJC), an Afghan watchdog now in exile, the Taliban have issued at least 24 directives over the past four years that directly affect radio operations.
These restrictions, the AFJC says, include bans on women working in state-run media, segregated workspaces, dress codes, prohibitions on women’s voices in certain broadcasts and advertisements in some provinces, and limits on female reporters’ field work. Violations have reportedly led to threats, detentions, and imprisonment for staff and managers who resist.
Despite these challenges, the AFJC reports that around 200 radio stations remain active across Afghanistan, broadcasting full-time, part-time, or for a few hours daily, continuing to serve as a lifeline of information and education for millions of people across the country.
