KATHMANDU, MARCH 3

Thirty parliamentarians convened at Nagarkot from 1-2 March, in a workshop organized by UNESCO Nepal in collaboration with the Inter-Parliamentary Union.

The workshop is organized to inform the parliamentarians' ongoing discussion of media and communication issues, and also features a review of Nepal's commitments under relevant human rights mechanisms.

'This workshop offered a platform for lawmakers to exchange knowledge and reaffirm their commitment to human rights principles throughout the legislative process. This is an opportunity to learn the best practices and apply them within our local context,' said Indira Ranamagar, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives.

This workshop holds particular relevance as Nepal's parliament is in the process of developing laws related to media and the use of social media and regulations including the proposed Media Council Act, Mass Communications Act, and Social Media Usages and Regulation Act.

Michael Croft, UNESCO Representative to Nepal said, 'This workshop is organized not to provide recommendations concerning specific provisions in the media-related bills but to familiarize parliamentarians with international standards that help them strengthen their commitments to human rights and inform their decisions.'

Along with parliamentarians, the workshop featured distinguished experts including Rogier Huizenga, Manager of the Inter-Parliamentary Union Human Rights Programme, James Lawless, Member of Parliament of Ireland, Joan Barata Mir, an international legal expert on freedom of expression and media regulation, Guilherme Canela, Chief of the section of Freedom of Expression at UNESCO Paris and Santosh Sigdel, a human rights lawyer. They led sessions covering various topics related to human rights and media, including national and international standards on freedom of expression, social media and online platforms, legitimate restrictions, hate speech, media freedom and the safety of journalists.

'As a cornerstone of democracy, freedom of expression empowers citizens to participate and hold governance accountable. Recognized in the UDHR and ICCPR, this right is vital for Nepal, a nation committed to upholding it,' said Rogier Huizenga, Manager of the Inter-Parliamentary Union Human Rights Programme. 'Nepal's lawmakers have a unique responsibility and opportunity to reflect the principles of international human rights law and demonstrate these commitments in the proposed media bills.'

Nepal ratified UDHR and ICCPR in 1991 reflecting its commitment to respect the civil and political rights of individuals. Articles 17, 19, 27, and 28 of Nepal's constitution ensure fundamental rights for its citizens including freedom of expression, right to communication, access to information, and right to privacy.

'Through ratifying universal declarations and treaties like the UDHR and ICCPR, Nepal has not only showcased its dedication to human rights but also bound itself legally to uphold them,' said Guilherme Canela, Chief of the Section of Freedom of Expression at UNESCO.

James Lawless, an Irish parliamentarian who chairs the Human Rights and Justice Committee of the Irish Parliament, offered insights into Ireland's laws regarding media and platform regulation. Nepal's lawmakers interacted with him on how they could implement the successful practices that they have implemented.

As Nepal's media landscape evolves rapidly, parliamentarians underscored the concerning rise of misinformation, disinformation, and hate speech. Ranju Kumari Jha, a member of Nepal's Law, Justice, and Human Rights Committee, particularly emphasized the widespread nature of these issues within the country. She emphasized that the government needs to adopt a holistic approach to create regulatory mechanisms and the focus should be on promoting Media and Information Literacy (MIL) through education, and research that should bring evidence-based programs.

'UNESCO's initiative for lawmakers is relevant as Parliament is in the process of passing media-related laws. With UNESCO, a specialized agency within this domain, the federal parliament secretariat seeks to further collaborate with the Organization to strengthen the capacity of parliamentarians,' said Sudarshan Khadka, Secretary of the Federal Parliament Secretariat.

As part of its mandate, UNESCO actively collaborates with Member States worldwide to promote freedom of expression, access to information, and safety of journalists. Last month, UNESCO organized a similar workshop for Nepali judges, focusing on international standards concerning these issues through its Judges initiative, which has trained over 35,000 judicial actors from 160+ countries. This workshop for lawmakers in Nepal serves as an extension of these efforts to sensitize important stakeholders within the country. These initiatives are supported by the Multi-Donor Programme on Freedom of Expression and Safety of Journalists.