By the name of compassionate and merciful god
The message of Dr. Said Makhdom Rahin the Minister of Culture and Information of
Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to the Symposium of “a access to information: its role
in the promotion of democracy and human rights in Afghanistan”.
Dear audiences and colleagues!
Ladies and Gentlemen!
Since beginning of 1940s when an independent department by the name of publications established, the intellectuals and benevolent people realized an insufficiency in the name of this department to cover complete mandate of this department. At the beginning of 60s the State decided to promote this department to ministry level. These benevolent people started advocacy to integrate the most important valuable element in to the name of this ministry to cover the information and information delivery mandate of this body.
Therefore the new established ministry started its work by the name of ministry of culture and information amongst other state organizations.
During several decades the department of (Ashans-e-Bakhtar) in the frame of Ministry of Culture and Information, has been plying an important role in the field of information dissemination. By increasing the radio and TV channels the journalists found it out that the valuable and vital task of information delivery and public awareness in a standard-base needs more possibilities and tools rather than only providing report from events. To achieve the objectives, reports from events, scientific and cultural programs, dialogues, documentary films, interviews and many other methods and approaches should be used as efficient tools for information delivery and public awareness.
The Ministry of Culture and Information has realized the current situation of the country and expanded the dimension of information and public awareness through different tools and approaches to institutionalize the culture of citizens’ rights and human rights therefore the Ministry of Culture and Information provided facilities for private sectors to fulfil professionally this responsibility beside the state organizations. During past two months in two seminars on media and democracy we tried to indicate and identify the relationship of democracy and freedom of expression. I appreciate you that you are trying once again to indentify the natural and logical relationship between information delivery, democracy and human rights
In our point of view providing opportunities by any organizations to indentify, recognize and clarify the common relationship between medias, information dissemination, democracy and human rights is a great job and admirable.
We believe these enlightening are very supportive for us and are in line with our aim and goal.
The Ministry of Culture and Information supports your initiative for drafting the access to information law and will help the legal procedure of ratification of access to information law and to be respected by relevant organizations.
Dear colleagues and friends!
For information delivery and public awareness we all are responsible to inform the citizens about their rights and it needs our continuous and sustainable joint efforts and work.
I hope you continue the series of your symposiums in centres and provinces of the country.
Wish you prosperity
Dr. Said Makhdom Rahin the Minister of Culture and Information of Islamic Republic of Afghanistan