Constitution has guaranteed press freedom: Deputy Speaker Rana

NAGARKOT (Bhaktapur): Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Indira Rana, has underlined the need of laws compatible with time to strengthen journalism, making it more professional and accountable.

Addressing an inaugural session of a two-day “Workshop for Members of the Federal Parliament: Nepal’s International Commitments to Freedom of Expression, Access to Information, Privacy and Safety of Journalists” in Nagarkot today, the Deputy Speaker reminded that the Constitution has guaranteed press freedom and people’s representatives should bear this fact in mind while enacting laws.

Acknowledging the role of journalism in bringing democracy and the republic in the nation, the Deputy Speaker said media-related laws should ensure the right to freedom, right to information, right to communications and right to privacy enshrined by the Constitution.

“We as legislators should study the issues seriously before proceeding with the formulation of laws,” she asserted, adding that the country’s international commitments be considered while enacting laws. “We should be alert that whether any act and laws are capable of squeezing the rights of the citizens.”

The Deputy Speaker was of the opinion of considering Nepal’s international commitments, the context of the nation and IT development while formulating the laws.

“This programme will impart necessary knowledge and resources to formulate, review and implement laws, policies and procedures maintaining fundamental rights which will contribute in building a more democratic and transparent society,” she stressed.
Human Rights Programme Manager of Inter Parliamentary Union, Rogier Huizenga, mentioned that freedom of expression is the basic tenet of human rights.

Citing that Nepal has expressed commitment to formulate laws as per International Convention and protect freedom of expression from its implementation, Huizenga shared that Parliament should address it while making laws.

He further said IPU would support to make Nepal’s laws related to freedom of expression as of international standard.
More than 20 lawmakers of federal parliament are participating in the programme organised by UNESCO.

On the occasion, UNESCO’s freedom of expression expert Guilherme Canela gave a presentation on global and regional-level practice of freedom of expression while Santosh Sigdel shed light on freedom of expression in the context of Nepal.