MISSION STATEMENT
International
Press Freedom and Freedom of Expression Mission to Nepal
For release at 12:00 hrs on Thursday, 17 January 2008
At a press conference today in Kathmandu marking the
end of the fourth International Press Freedom and Freedom of Expression
Mission to Nepal,
the mission members welcomed the progress on reforming the media
environment since April 2006, whilst noting that much remains to be
done and support must be made available for the continued development
of the media. Moreover, the International Mission
raised serious concerns about press freedom violations taking place
throughout the country, particularly as impartial and independent media
coverage will be essential for holding free and fair elections and
promoting the democratic process.
Press Freedom
Violations
Journalists,
media workers and media institutions continue to be harassed and
threatened within a growing culture of impunity. The Federation of
Nepali Journalists has recorded 652 incidents of press freedom
violations between April 2006 and December 2007. The International
Mission condemns the murders of Birendra Sah and Pushkar Bahadur
Shrestha,
and the disappearance of Prakash Singh Thakuri, and calls for the
prompt and thorough investigation of these cases by the judicial
authorities with full assistance of all relevant individuals and
groups, in order to bring those responsible to justice. In particular,
the Mission urges
the Maoist
leadership to form a committee of investigation into the disappearance
of Prakash Singh Thakuri, as was done in the case of Birendra Sah. The
International Mission stressed the crucial importance of the trials of
those accused in these cases being fair and transparent.
Constituent Assembly
Elections
The
International Mission spoke with government ministers, political party
leaders, community leaders and the security forces about the importance
of the elections proceeding as scheduled and supporting an independent
and unobstructed media to ensure a free and fair vote. Attacks, threats
and interference in the media are unacceptable and deny the public’s
right to access independent and diverse information. The Mission
calls for the government and political parties to undertake and
publicise measures to ensure the safety of journalists and media
workers. The Mission
will send a short-term observation team during the elections to focus
on the media situation.
The
International Mission urges the national and local media to provide
independent and impartial coverage of the elections, avoiding biased
content. In this regard, the Mission
calls on the media to abide by professional standards in accordance
with international principles, and to engage in an open and
constructive dialogue with the Election Commission and other relevant
groups for delivering fair and impartial content.
The
International Mission is very concerned about reported cases of hate
speech and violence-promoting content, and strongly appeals to all
media throughout the country to work professionally, in a manner
conducive to ensuring lasting peace.
Legal Reform
The
International Mission welcomes the amendment of the Working Journalists
Act and the enactment of the Right to Information Act, noting the need
to ensure their prompt and proper implementation.
The
International Mission also stressed the need for strong constitutional
protection of freedom of expression and press freedom, as well as the
reform of the broadcast law and transformation of the state media into
public service media, offering diverse programming serving the needs of
all in society. The Mission calls for the recommendations of the High
Level Media Advisory Commission to be implemented, bringing clarity to
the management of broadcasting frequencies, creating a three-tier
(commercial, community and public) broadcasting system, administration
of licenses, allocation of public advertising and governance of public
service media. An enabling environment should also be created for
internet-based media.
Journalists’
and Media Workers’ Rights
The
International Mission requests media institutions to provide
journalists and media workers with fair and decent working conditions,
as well as calls for negotiations between trade unions, media
management and media workers to be held in a constructive manner. The
expression of workers’ demands should not unnecessarily interfere with
the public’s right to information.
Inclusion
of Marginalised Groups
The
International Mission calls upon media managers to ensure women are
provided equal opportunities for employment, pay and promotion. The Mission
also asks media institutions to ensure staffing at all levels
representing diversity, including marginalised groups such as Dalits,
indigenous nationalities, Madhesi and religious minorities.
Follow-Up
to the Mission
The
International Mission will be releasing a full report in the coming
weeks, including a list of recommendations for media development as
discussed with the various stakeholders in Nepal.
Together with the national media actors, the International Mission will
work towards the creation of a comprehensive coordinated ‘roadmap’ for
media development. Organisations represented on the Mission
are ready to provide support to the Nepali stakeholders as requested in
their efforts to ensure press freedom and media development and will
call upon other media support organisations to join.
Information
about the Mission
The
International Mission met with government ministers, political party
leaders, community leaders, the election commission, police, armed
forces, civil society, international community and a broad
cross-section of the media in Kathmandu. The Mission also visited the Bara and
Parsa Districts (where Birendra Sah and Pushkar Bahadur Shrestha were murdered)
and Kanchanpur
District (from where Prakash Singh Thakuri disappeared). Prior International
Missions to Nepal occurred in July 2005,
March 2006 and September 2006.
The
International Mission incorporates a dozen international organisations,
including UN agencies, global media associations, freedom of expression
advocates and media development organisations. Those organisations
participating in the January 2008 mission included ARTICLE
19, Hirondelle Foundation, International Federation of Journalists
(IFJ), International Media Support (IMS), International Press Institute
(IPI), Internews, Reporters Without Borders (RSF), Open
Society Institute (OSI), UNESCO, World Association of Community Radio
Broadcasters (AMARC) and World Press Freedom Committee (WPFC).
The
International Mission thanks the Federation of Nepali Journalists and
other national organisations involved in preparing and hosting the
visit, acknowledging the crucial importance of close cooperation with
national actors and ensuring a nationally driven process.
For more
information contact any of the participating international
organisations or IMS at:
Jesper
Højberg,
IMS Executive Director, jh@i-m-s.dk,
+ 45 25 31 00 15