The International Media Mission to Nepal is a group of international organisations and actors, which supports Nepal’s media through support to legal reform, advocacy activities, and fact-finding missions, documenting the effects of repression of the country’s journalists. Since 2005, the International Media Mission, has visited Nepal seven times, most recently in February 2012 to assess the media freedom situation, and support a legal reform process in the country.

The International Media Mission met with Nepal’s Prime Minister Dr. Baburam Bhattarai (center) in 2012

In 2012, the International Media Mission released its analysis of Nepal’s constitutional proposals regarding “the rights to freedom of expression, of the media and of information”. The analysis (available below) marks a crucial and very concrete step in the effort to improve the legal environment for Nepal’s journalists.

The group originally came together to advocate for respect for freedom of expression and of the media in Nepal after repressive measures were put in place during the period of the Royal Coup in February 2005, and to express solidarity with local media and freedom of expression groups during this period.

With the restoration of democracy in 2006, and the opening up of opportunities for positive reform, the International Media Mission shifted its focus to include support for reform efforts. Since it began, the International Media Mission and its members have undertaken a wide range of activities to promote greater respect for freedom of expression and of the media, and the right to information.

Reports and other resources

Available below is a comprehensive collection of materials released in connection with visits by the International Media Mission to Nepal.

From the Mission’s visit in February 2012, a statement on the country’s progress in promoting media freedom is available alongside the Mission’s analysis of Nepal’s constitutional proposals regarding the rights to freedom of expression, of the media and of information.

Between 2005 to 2009, the International Media Mission visited Nepal six times. From those visits, a range of articles, statements and reports are available.

Latest mission (2012)

Year	Resource	Title	Document
2012	Report	Analysis of Constitutional Proposals on Freedom of Expression, Media Freedom and the Right to Information (English)
2012	Report	Analysis of Constitutional Proposals on Freedom of Expression, Media Freedom and the Right to Information (Nepali)
2012	Statement	International Fact Finding and Advocacy Media Mission to Nepal – Joint Statement (English)

Past missions (2005-2009)

Year	Resource	Title	Document
2009	Report	A call to end violence and impunity
2009	Statement	Rapid response assessment
2008	Report	Building for the future
2008	Statement	Media and Election Monitoring Mission
2006	Statement	Condemnation of a year’s repression of Nepal’s media
2005	Statement	Statement following the Royal Coup on February 1, 2005
2005	Report	The Defence of Press Freedom and Freedom of Expression in Nepal

The International Media Mission is comprised of the following organisations: International Media Support (IMS), AMARC, ARTICLE 19, Centre for Law and Democracy (CLD), Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), International News Safety Institute (INSI), International Press Institute (IPI), Internews, Open Society Foundations (OSF), Reporters sans Frontières (RSF), South Asia Free Media Association (SAFMA), South Asia Media Solidarity Network (SAMSN) and UNESCO.