Lalitpur: Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Arzu Rana Deuba has identified a free press and informed citizens as guardians of democracy, calling for safeguarding press freedom. Addressing the Lomanthang International Media Summit organised today in Lalitpur by the Nepal Press Union, she underscored that democracy is unimaginable without press freedom, and press freedom is essential for protecting democratic governance.
According to National News Agency Nepal, Dr Rana emphasized the necessity of freedom of speech, expression, and press freedom in building a democratic, prosperous, and inclusive society. She expressed the government’s full commitment to freedom of press and expression, highlighting the constitutional guarantees of press freedom in Nepal not only under fundamental rights but also in its preamble.
Dr Rana pointed out the challenges faced by democracy, including the erosion of public trust in democratic institutions. She stressed the important role of the press in restoring public confidence and upholding civil liberties, urging journalists to adhere strictly to the journalist code of conduct to prevent misinformation and disinformation that threaten democracy and social harmony.
She advocated for the dissemination of truthful and authentic information to build a good society. Dr Rana also expressed gratitude to the summit organisers for including discussions on climate change, a critical issue for Nepal. She announced that Nepal is hosting the “Sagarmatha Sambad,” a global dialogue platform on climate change, scheduled to take place in Kathmandu from May 16 to 18, aiming to raise awareness about climate change impacts on Nepal and promote its international presence.
Dr Rana called on national and international journalists to support Nepal’s advocacy for climate justice, requesting journalists from various countries to amplify Nepal’s efforts in this regard.