International media on a joint mission to Nepal

Kathmandu, Mar 17: Twelve international organisations are undertaking a joint mission to Nepal this week to discuss with media organisations here 'the continuous violation of freedom of expression' in the Himalayan kingdom .

The March 2006 mission is a direct continuation of last year's mission to Nepal and the inclusion of more organisations demonstrates the ever growing concern of the international community about the situation in the country, a release issued by the mission said here today.

The organisations who are part of the mission include an UN agency, global media associations, freedom of expression advocates and media development organisations.

The members of the mission will meet with a broad cross-section of the national media community to discuss the press freedom situation in Nepal.

They will also meet with key institutions and decision-makers among the national authorities, security forces and other parties to stress on respect for press freedom and freedom of expression, the release said.

In addition, the mission will visit three districts in Nepal - Pokhara, Surkhet and Birtamod - and will meet with local civil and army authorities and representatives from the local media in these areas.

The members of the mission will also participate in a national conference on press freedom in Nepal to be held in Kathmandu on March 24.

The international organizations participating on the mission include ARTICLE 19, Free Voice, International Federation of Journalists, International Freedom of Expression Exchange - IFEX, International Media Suppor, International News Safety Institute, International Press Institute, Reporters sans Frontières, South Asia Press Commission, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization - UNESCO, World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters - AMARC, World Press Freedom Committee, Committee to Protect Journalists, Press Institute of India and World Association of Newspapers.

The mission is organised in Nepal by the Federation of Nepalese Journalists in collaboration with a group of twenty-eight Nepalese organisations, institutes and networks. International coordination for the mission is being provided by International Media Support.

UNI