Muhafiz - a digital solution for media safety

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 26 November 2015

Muhafiz is a digital initiative launched to improve media safety for journalists in Pakistan. Collaborating with various organizations, it aims to document threats and facilitate emergency support.

Summary

ISLAMABAD: Muhafiz, a digital solution for media safety, has been initiated by Media Matters for Democracy (MMFD) in collaboration with Code for Pakistan, Peshawar Press Club and National Press Club Islamabad. The initiative is supported by UNESCO.

Muhafiz is a digital safety net that seeks to streamline the documentation of threats to media workers, crowd source safety related information (safety advisories) and act as a connection gateway allowing journalists to seek help in emergency and to connect with national and international media rights groups working for journalists’ safety.

The initiative is currently in the development phase and a limited launch is planned in January 2016. “We hope that Muhafiz will be able to fill a key gap in media safety initiatives by introducing an easy, effective and secure way to document threats, threat actors and trends affecting media safety in Pakistan”, says Asad Baig, Executive Director, MMfD.

“We have collaborated with Code For Pakistan for the development of this tool, and would keep the code open source to allow safety audits from international digital safety groups. Ms.

Vibeke Jensen, UNESCO Representative to Pakistan, said: “We believe in a free, fair and safe media and are committed to creating an enabling environment for free media to thrive in Pakistan as outlined in the UN Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity.

“We believe there is a gap between threat reporting and response, and Muhafiz is one initiative that aims at closing that gap.” National Press Club President Shaheryar Khan lauded the much needed initiative and committed full support on behalf of the National Press Club for the cause of journalists safety and protection.

“We believe it will compliment the Safety Hub initiated by National Press Club,” he said. - Online

KEY POINTS:

• Initiated by Media Matters for Democracy with support from UNESCO.
• Aims to document threats faced by media workers in Pakistan.
• Feature crowd-sourcing of safety-related information.
• Planned limited launch in January 2016.
• Open source code for safety audits by international groups.