In a report released today entitled ‘Power to Silence: Nepal’s new media ordinance’, the ICJ said that Nepal’s Media Ordinance is in violation of Nepal’s international human rights obligations and the Nepali Constitution and called on the Government immediately to repeal it.
On the day the Communist Party of Nepal extended a unilateral ceasefire for one month, the ICJ called on both sides to the conflict in Nepal to declare indefinite ceasefires and take the next steps towards peace.
The ICJ today began a four-day high-level mission to Nepal to assess the continuing human rights crisis in the country.
The mission will focus on respect for the rule of law, especially the role of the judiciary in defending human rights, respect for decisions of the judiciary and restrictions on human rights defenders, particularly human rights lawyers.
While in Nepal, the mission team will meet with senior government officials, the National Human Rights Commission, the Chief Justice and other members of the judiciary, senior members of the legal profession and human rights defenders. The mission is led by ICJ Secretary-General, Nicholas Howen and will be available to speak to the media at the conclusion of the mission on the 30th September and 1st October.
The ICJ called on the Government of Nepal to lift legal restrictions on media freedoms and to immediately take measures to end intimidation, censorship, and unlawful detention of journalists.
The ICJ is concerned by sedition charges filed against student leader Gagan Thapa and reiterated its call for the repeal of the law that allows for the imprisonment of peaceful activists who legitimately criticize the monarchy.
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