Afghan Peace Watch

Afghan Peace Watch (APW) is a U.S.-registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to advancing peace and security in Afghanistan and supporting Afghan journalists and civic activists under Taliban rule. APW produces cutting-edge data using a network of undercover reporters in Afghanistan and monitors over 120 social media accounts in Dari, Pashto, Urdu, Arabic, and other regional languages. APW is committed to the highest standards of data integrity and analysis in order to better inform policy making through timely and accurate data collection, analysis, and reporting. One of the greatest achievements of the last twenty years in Afghanistan has been free media and support for women&#... read more Afghan Peace Watch (APW) is a U.S.-registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to advancing peace and security in Afghanistan and supporting Afghan journalists and civic activists under Taliban rule. APW produces cutting-edge data using a network of undercover reporters in Afghanistan and monitors over 120 social media accounts in Dari, Pashto, Urdu, Arabic, and other regional languages. APW is committed to the highest standards of data integrity and analysis in order to better inform policy making through timely and accurate data collection, analysis, and reporting. One of the greatest achievements of the last twenty years in Afghanistan has been free media and support for women's rights, including education and economic empowerment. Young journalists and researchers, including young women, were able to report on issues related to democracy, human rights, and corruption, providing an effective source of accountability and independent information on security and governance under the Islamic Republic. Since the Taliban violently came to power last year, women and journalists have borne the brunt of violence under their regime, including forced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, intimidation, and torture. Over 350 media operations have been shut down and 6,400 journalists have lost their jobs. The U.S.-based Committee to Protect Journalists has documented at least 183 cases of violence against journalists in Afghanistan-95 percent of which has been perpetrated by the Taliban. Over the past several months, the Taliban have banned women from parks and high school education and implemented new restrictions on both women and journalists. The media operations that remain open are forced to practice self-censorship or risk being shut down by the Taliban. Following the collapse in August 2021, APW's core leadership team were among the most high-profile and vocal journalists and civic activists in the country and were evacuated across four continents. After a brief lull in reporting due to the evacuations, APW reestablished its core leadership team outside the country and network of reporters in Afghanistan that continue to bravely operate under Taliban rule. APW's mission is to continue to work in support of a free media and a democratic Afghanistan that respects human rights, education for women, ethnic and religious minorities, and economic empowerment for young Afghans more connected than ever before to the world around them through social media and the internet.