In honor of World Press Freedom Day, celebrated on May 3, Rajesh KC of the Nagarik Daily received the ‘Courageous Journalism Award’ in Nepal for his contribution to freedom of expression via editorial cartoons. The award was presented to KC by Nepal’s National Committee of the International Press Institute (IPI), as well as the Nepal-based Freedom Forum.

“We congratulate Mr. Rajesh KC for his efforts to advocate media freedom through cartoons,” said IPI Press Freedom Manger Barbara Trionfi. ”IPI is very concerned about continued attacks against journalists and the government’s failure to take action against the perpetrators,” she added.

In presenting the award on May 3, at an event on the ‘Status and Challenges of Freedom of Expression in Nepal’, The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Chairperson Kedar Nath Upadhyay stated that “freedom of expression and human rights have been bearing the brunt (of the) deteriorating status of press freedom coupled with growing impunity in the country.” The main concerns regarding press freedom in Nepal are the growing cases of impunity and self-censorship. Upadhyay called attention to the seriousness of self-censorship as journalists are unable to report on information essential for addressing public concerns. Self-censorship and impunity towards journalists stems from the policies of the Interim government who have been accused of repressing press freedom.

Nepal has been consumed by political instability for many years. The cabinet of Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai resigned last Thursday in an effort to create a broad-based, unity government. The establishment of a new constitution was central to the peace talks conducted in 2006 that brokered peace between the Maoist insurgency and the monarchy, yet implementation has been postponed on many occasions. The new constitution, meant to be finalized by May 27, 2012, aims to address a number of economic, social, and political rights that have been repressed by the interim government.

The world is watching as Nepal’s new government begins to tackle the implementation of the new constitution. It is of great importance to IPI and other organizations promoting press freedom that strong constitutional guarantees be made for the freedom of expression. A statement issued by the International Media Mission, a coalition of media freedom and development groups, on Feb. 27, indicates that while the commitment to freedoms of expression, of information, and of the media are professed by the government, the actual provisions in the constitution are weak and need improvement. It is the hope of IPI that Nepal will develop a media policy that is non-discriminatory and in accordance with international standards.