The International Union of Journalists (IUJ) has strongly condemned the exclusion of female journalists from the press conference of Afghanistan’s Acting Foreign Minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, held in New Delhi, India.

In a statement issued on Saturday, IUJ described the move as a “clear violation of press freedom and gender equality,” which it said were essential components of democratic societies and international human rights standards.

The Union urged the Indian authorities and the event organizers to ensure equal access for all accredited journalists, irrespective of gender. It also called upon global media organizations and press freedom advocates to denounce such discriminatory actions.

“Freedom of the press must be inclusive, and no journalist should ever be denied access or silenced based on gender,” the statement read.

The IUJ reaffirmed its commitment to upholding journalistic rights and promoting gender equality in media spaces across the world.