To ensure press freedom strengthening of republic system is necessary: Minister Sharma

By TRN Online, Kathmandu, May 9: Minister for Communication and Information Technology Rekha Sharma, said that there is an interconnection between political freedom and press freedom. 

Addressing a program organized on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of World Press Freedom by the National Human Right Commission, Federation of Nepali Journalists, and, Department of Mass Communications and Journalism of Tribhuvan University, in collaboration with UNESCO Nepal, Minister Sharma, also, spokesperson of the government, said that the press freedom is not possible without political freedom, so it is possible to ensure press freedom only by strengthening the federal democratic republic system. 

Saying that might be amusing to a new generation, but there were times when the previous generations had to go through enormous sacrifices just to utilize their right to expression through writing and being vocal, Minister Sharma said, “Incidents of the violation of the right to freedom of the press are being observed nowadays, but, in a democratic republican state, violation of rights is punishable. Press freedom is guaranteed now in comparison to the past.” 

Stating that press freedom and right to expression is not only important to journalists but to all citizens, she said, “Press freedom and right to expression is the lifeline of the democracy. In order to strengthen democracy, we have included complete press freedom in the constitution.”

“The current government is committed to changing the provisions of the constitutions on press freedom into law and the law into implementation.”  

She stressed that the Right to Information Act, the Working Journalists Act and other laws must be effectively implemented in order to strengthen press freedom. 

According to her, the government is serious about cyber security policies and cyber awareness programs to reduce the digital challenges seen that are hindering total press freedom. "Wrong information and hateful expressions are a challenge to press freedom." She said. 

While appreciating the National Human Rights Commission for setting up a security mechanism to heed attention to the implementation of freedom of expression, and the safety of journalists she said that the government will provide full support to make it more effective.