A taskforce under the Journalists’ Safety Mechanism (Directive on Formation of Safety Mechanism and Work Procedure for the Protection of Freedom of Expression) of the National Human Rights Council (NHRC) held a meeting at Dhulikhel, Kavre on September 27-28.
The meeting chaired by Acting Chief Secretary Dr Tikaram Pokhrel dwelt on the status of journalists focusing their safety and rights. The senior Joint Secretary at NHRC, Yagya Adhikari, who is also the coordinator of the task force under the Mechanism made presentation on the activities carried out by Directive Committee. He appreciated the monitoring of freedom of expression including press freedom violations conducted by Freedom Forum and regular update to the NHRC Directive Committee so that it could mobilize the province-level mechanism and province-level NHRC offices to act promptly in the needy cases/incidents.
Mr Adhikari shared that the province-level mechanism in Koshi Province had visited the Dharan Metropolitan City Office and discussed intimidation to journalist Dhamala. Information provided by FF was useful to take stock of the journalist. The meeting welcomed the Nepal Police’s prompt cooperation, especially in case of journalist Sanjita Dhamala in Dharan City. With police persons’ timely intervention, she was able to escape attack and injury. She was being attacked by the followers of Dharan City Mayor at a hospital.
Even a presentation by the Freedom Forum featured in the meeting. Monitoring of FoE violation categorizing into three groups- violations relating to right to information, to media freedom and to the citizens’ rights- were presented on the occasion.
The meeting was attended by the taskforce members from NHRC, representative of the Federation of Nepali Journalists, representative of Nepal Bar Association, representative of Human Rights Cell of Nepal Police.
Executive Chief of Freedom Forum decided to prepare an annual report of the Committee after collecting details from province level, provide orientation to the province level (mechanism) as part of capacity building, translate the Directive into English and publish with necessary amendments, among others.