KATHMANDU, MARCH 3

Speaker of the House of Representatives Devraj Ghimire has said that an abundance of space has not been given to women as per their participation and activism.

Speaker Ghimire said this while speaking at the seminar on 'Women's Thoughts in the Media' organised here, ahead of the International Women's Day on March 8.

Speaker Ghimire also advised Press Council Nepal Chair Balkrishna Basnet to draw the attention of lawmakers towards the Mass Communication Bill.

Speaker Ghimire said even though activism and participation of women was increasing in the Parliament and other organisations, the media was not disseminating these accordingly.

He mentioned that even in the Parliament meetings after he became the Speaker, women MPs showed appreciable participation, but the media failed to promote them despite their relentless activism.

At the programme organised by Press Council Nepal, Speaker Ghimire said, 'The participation of women in the Parliament is good. They have potential. They also participate in various activities. But the media has not publicised women's participation and activism. Even in a few meetings after I became the speaker, women's participation has been good, be it is at the zero-hour or special time. But there is no such information.'' Speaker Ghimire accused the media of not making news except for specific leaders and issues that were discussed. He said there was no significant participation of women in the Parliament and the presence of the media.

'The Parliament needs some structures of a temporary nature for women. We are planning various programmes to make media houses women-friendly. We will talk to the Parliament Secretariat regarding this matter.'

Speaker Ghimire complained that the media did prioritise the content of the Parliament, but only paid attention to the promotion of leaders and issues that were discussed.

A version of this article appears in the print on March 4, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.