"Nepal has overcome a decade-long armed conflict, but still remains at the crossroads of a delicate transition. A wrong turn could threaten the achievements made so far...", concludes a new report published by IMS in cooperation with "International Press Freedom and Freedom of Expression Mission to Nepal "

The report "Building for the future - an overview of Nepal's media and recommendations for development priorities" presents the findings and recommendations of the "International Press Freedom and Freedom of Expression Mission to Nepal" following its visit to Nepal in January 2008.

The report describes how, since 2006, the media scene in Nepal has undergone significant changes. Press freedom has gained prominence and journalists have seen prohibitions disappear. But at the same time, violence against media practitioners has been rising, the report states.

Between April 2006 to December 2007, the Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) recorded more than 670 incidents of press freedom violations. These numbers included attacks on 219 journalists and media houses, five abductions as well as an abduction and murder.

In response to the figures, the International Mission sends a message to both the Nepali government as well as other party officials when stating in the report that:

"....freedom of the press and freedom of expression are not just for journalists, but for the entire populace, and that without the watchdog role of the press, the citizens will never be sufficienty educated to be able to debate and vote knowledgeably, which are the prerequisites of a democracy".

The report applauds the efforts to reform the legal framework for media in Nepal. Even though a number of issues remain unresolved such as the future framework for broadcasting and distribution of licences, the International Mission highlights the Right to information Act which was adopted in July 2007:

"The Act is a good one and, if implemented properly, should go someway to securing the right of Nepali citizens to access information held by public authorities".

The "International Press Freedom and Freedom of Expression Mission to Nepal" consists of a number of international organisations including UN agencies, global media associations, freedom of expression advocates and media development organisations. IMS has been part of the International Mission from the onset in 2005 and the group has followed media developments in Nepal since 2005 in response to the detererioating press freedom situation following the installation of direct rule by King Gyanendra, through the April 2006 Jana Andolan (People's Movement) and the ensuing signing of a peace accord in November 2006 by the seven-party government and the communist party of Nepal (the Maoists).

The report may be downloaded free of charge from this website. No distribution or sale of the report is allowed without prior approval by IMS.