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[home]>[programmes]>[media]>Media,
Democracy & HR
National Workshop on Media, Democracy and Human Rights in Nepal,
Kathmandu, 22-23, 2003
(Support from Forum Asia and in association with
Federation of Nepalese Journalists)
In Nepal's civil war the human rights and media community has come under
increasing pressure from both the security forces and the Maoists at a
time when their role is vital for safeguarding democracy, exposing abuse
of force and human rights violations and working for conflict mitigation
and conflict resolution. The eight year Maoist
insurgency has claimed more than 8000 lives. The breakdown of the
ceasefire in August has seen a renewed cycle of violence and terror
characterized by even greater brutality. A growing information gap has
raised serious questions about the lack of accountability in the
flouting of the rule of law and the killings of civilians. In particular
journalists have been targeted by both armed protagonists. Since the
collapse of the ceasefire, security forces and Maoists have killed,
abducted, disappeared and arrested scores of journalists. Moreover,
Nepal's fledgling democratic press is constrained by the legacy of the
authoritarian Panchayat period, its Kathmandu bias, the ownership
structure and a terrain that makes communication difficult.
Although there is no state of emergency, the
continuing use of Anti terrorist act, a growing policy of 'giving no
quarter' and the failure of the government and the Communist Party of
Nepal (Maoists) to sign a human rights accord
has resulted in gross violations of human rights in a culture of
impunity. Amnesty International in October accused the security forces
of enforced 'disappearances' of 270 'suspects' since the ceasefire
collapsed. Maoists have meted out summary executions to 'informers'.
School grounds instead of being respected as zones of peace have become
battle grounds with children killed in a planned ambush at a school by
security forces. Also, food is being used by both sides as an instrument
of war, while there are report of severe food shortages. Already more
than 100, 000 people have been displaced and the continuing terror is
pushing scores to daily flee. Maoists reportedly have been resorting to
forced conscription and have imposed restrictions on movements of
peoples and materials.
The 'National Workshop on Media, Democracy and
Human Rights' seeks to provide an opportunity for media practitioners
and human rights activists to strengthen their capacity to work in
Nepal's high risk conflict environment. It affirms the interdependence
of democracy, human rights and peace and the importance of strengthening
the enabling environment for freedom of expression in conflict. It aims
at developing a mutually constructive dialogue between the human rights
and media community to strengthen human rights and democracy in a
situation of civil war in Nepal.
Objectives:
- Sensitizing Journalists on Using Media for
Human Rights & Peace
- Critique of Existing Media Practices
- Strategies for Monitoring Media
- Using Alternate Media
- Monitoring by Human Rights Activists
- Conducting Investigations by Human Rights
Activists & Media
- Dialogue between Human Rights Activists and
Media Persons
The workshop is practically oriented towards hands
on capacity building. It will bring together 30 human rights activists
and media participants. Gender balance will be maintained. Resource
persons will be people experienced in negotiating conflicts from the
perspectives of human rights, humanitarian intervention and media as
advocacy for human rights and peace. There will be one or two resource
persons from outside Nepal. The language of the workshop is Nepali.
Outputs:
- Strengthening Freedom of Expression
- Journalists Reporting on Human Rights
- Human Rights Activists Skills Building
- Frameworks for Human Rights & Media Monitoring
- Human Rights & Media Community Working
Together
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