September 4th, 2021

This week’s highlights:

  • “We do not have the luxury of time” – Rachel Pulfer in Global News
  • Ghana’s Zanko Paani community’s water woes eased after borehole construction
  • Have you reserved your seats at Night For Rights 2021?

“We do not have the luxury of time” –
Rachel Pulfer in Global News on the urgency of
journalists’ evacuations from Afghanistan

 

JHR Executive Director Rachel Pulfer spoke to Global News yesterday, where she stressed on the urgency of our ongoing evacuation effort of Afghan journalists from Kabul and called for more flexibility in immigration terms for them. Read the full article here.

“These people are visible,” said Rachel. “They are known to have been criticizing in public the actions of the Taliban.”

“They are being hunted,” she added. “We do not have the luxury of time.”

After the departure of the allied NATO forces from the capital, Journalists for Human Rights continues to work on the ground with a coalition of concerned Canadian journalists and media, women’s rights and human rights organizations to determine routes out for Afghans trapped in the city.

The good news is we have credible reports of 46 journalists and their families who have made it out so far, up from the 17 we knew of last week. Every one of those 46 people represents a miracle of human ingenuity and resilience in the face of the longest odds imaginable. However, we’ve got at least 260+ more to go – the numbers are climbing daily –and much, much more to do to get those most at risk to safety.

We need significant help, including significant financial help, to do more. Our generous network of supporters have pledged $750,000 for this life-saving initiative, but we need more support to reach our $1,000,000 goal. (This target is informed by costs on the ground and costs related to JHR’s prior experience of evacuating journalists and staff safely from South Sudan in 2016.)

Please consider a donation to our special Evacuate Journalists Out Of Kabul fund. Please share Journalists for Human Rights updates on social media, and please start thinking about what you yourself can do to step up and contribute to these efforts.

Ghana’s Zanko Paani community’s water woes
eased after borehole construction

    A new mechanized borehole, built after a JHR-supported story on water scarcity in Ghana’s Zanko Paani community, has made water access easier for the community.

In June, JHR-trained journalist Prosper K. Kuorsoh wrote a story highlighting the intense water scarcity facing the Zanko Paani community in Ghana’s Upper West Region. She stressed that women and children “compete with animals” to get water for domestic use.

After this story was published by the Ghana News Agency, the Amazing Grace Children’s Foundation (AGCF) constructed a mechanized borehole to facilitate access to potable water in the community. Assembly member thanked GNA for “addressing this great need of our community”.

Read the full details here.

Help us continue this essential awareness-building work through JHR’s Mobilizing Media to Fight COVID-19 (MMFC) program. When journalists shine the light on human rights abuses and injustices, it leads to actual, life-changing impact.

      The above stories are part of the Mobilizing Media to Fight COVID-19 project funded by

Have you reserved your seats
at Night For Rights 2021?

 

JHR is holding its annual Night for Rights gala dinner and party at the Brickworks Pavilion in Toronto on October 20, 2021, from 6pm to 8pm. This year, mindful of potential public health concerns, we’re also offering our supporters the opportunity to join the party online with a fabulous virtual experience in the works!

Thank you to the Fisher family, Delaney family, Shelly Meadows, and our numerous other supporters for purchasing tables and tickets at the early bird rate. Tickets continue to sell fast and are available for purchase at www.night4rights.com at $1000 for a ticket and $8000 for a table of up to 8 seats.

We look forward to seeing you on October 20!

         

     Your support allows us to continue our innovative work around the world!