NHRC urges all to respect press freedom, freedom of expression

Kathmandu: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has urged all bodies concerned including the government for the media person’s safety and protection of press freedom.

A message issued today by Commission Spokesperson, Dr. Tikaram Pokharel, on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day, requested all bodies concerned for media persons’ safety and the protection of freedom, respecting press freedom and freedom of expression guaranteed by the constitution as well as national and international laws.

‘Press freedom, freedom of expression, and human rights are interdependent with each other. The NHRC expresses concern over the situation where more media-related persons became victimized this year as compared to last year in Nepal,’ reads the message.

According to the Federation of Nepali Journalists, 64 cases of violation of press freedom took place in the last year.

Information has been received that media persons, who work round the clock for the right to information are facing challenges in any difficult situation, are physically unsafe, freedom of expression has been curtailed, media persons are found arrested based on news coverage and misbehave on media persons in course of field reporting.

The media council bill designed to amend and integrate laws related to the media council is still in the parliament.

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