KATHMANDU, MARCH 16
Media Action Nepal has officially joined the Civil Society Coalition on Information and Democracy, a global network of civil society organizations (CSOs) dedicated to safeguarding democracy, press freedom, and human rights in the digital age. The coalition, launched in 2021 under the leadership of the Forum on Information and Democracy (FID), unites 65 CSOs from across the world to advance democratic safeguards in the global information and communication space.
An implementing entity of the Partnership for Information and Democracy, endorsed by 55 States so far, the FID is mandated to evaluate the impact of the digital information ecosystem on human rights and democratic institutions and to facilitate the development of both regulatory and self-regulatory responses.
By joining this influential coalition, Media Action Nepal strengthens its commitment to upholding information integrity and combating misinformation and disinformation, particularly in South Asia. As a grassroots organization advocating for independent and accountable media since its inception in 2015, Media Action Nepal brings invaluable expertise in media development, journalist safety, and policy advocacy.
Welcoming the newest and first member of the coalition from Nepal, Camille Grenier, the Executive Director of the Coalition, stated, "We are delighted to welcome Media Action Nepal to the Coalition for Information and Democracy. Their commitment to promote freedom of expression and the right to information, aligns with our collective effort to advocate for the implementation of democratic safeguards in the global information and communication space." Together, we will continue to advance democratic values and protect information integrity worldwide, Grenier added.
"As an organization deeply rooted in promoting media development and safeguarding press freedom, we are honored to join this global coalition. Our grassroots insights from Nepal and South Asia will enrich international discussions on democracy and information integrity," said Laxman Datt Pant, Executive Director of Media Action Nepal.
Media Action Nepal's participation in the coalition aligns with its long-standing mission to promote media literacy, journalist safety, and democratic values. Having led several media development and press freedom initiatives, and as an active member of the global media development and press freedom alliances including the Media Freedom Coalition-Consultative Network [MFC-CN], ACOS Alliance and the Global Forum for Media Development (GFMD), Media Action Nepal is well-positioned to contribute to global efforts in fostering a more transparent and accountable digital space.