Kathmandu: Protection and promotion of civic space for functional democracy has been underlined at a programme here Friday. The speakers at the programme expressed worry over undue politicization in State institutions, which they argued, could jeopardize democratic norms and values.
According to National News Agency Nepal, the speakers comprising human rights activists, legal experts, journalists, and academia attending the ‘multi-stakeholder dialogue on civic space’ voiced urgency of keeping intact institutional neutrality and integrity so that democratic governance would be bolstered that keeps people in centre. Shrinking civic space negatively impacts citizens’ voices in addition to the unobstructed exercise of freedom of expression, and of assembly, along with other rights, they insisted.
Senior journalist Hari Bahadur Thapa viewed, ‘It is unfortunate that state institutions are increasingly driven by political interests, particularly in the appointment of key officials. This trend is steadily eroding public trust in these institutions and undermining their credibility.’ Sharing his three decades plus experience in parliamentary journalism, Thapa expressed concern over significant decline in the ‘practice of question and answer’ in recent times. He argued that this decline is diminishing citizens’ voices and shrinking civic space. “The culture of question and answer is a vital tool to amplify citizens’ voices and to hold those in governance accountable,” he said, wondering, “Even the lawmakers are not questioning ministers.”
Human rights activist and advocate Mohana Ansari shared with the mass that civil society in Nepal emerged from a unique need and a rights-based approach. She stressed that state bodies established to promote human rights should not be under government control, but work independently. “Irrespective of having better civic space compared to other South Asian countries, there are numerous fronts to improve for openness and creativity,” she reminded. She argued our support systems, including constitutional bodies and the media, have limited access to citizens.
Similarly, advocate Om Prakash Aryal stated that an excessive focus on political organizations has eroded societal values. ‘Political interests have come to dominate state institutions,’ he said, warning against a politically compromised system. Creativity is must to retain values in the age of digital disruption, according to him. He further viewed once the intellectuals are shadowed, the viral trend rules the roost. So, speaking for truth should not cease, Aryal underlined.
The event organized by the NGO Federation, the Save the Children, and the Association of International NGO in Nepal highlighted the urgency of institutional reforms to ensure impartiality, accountability, and the protection of civil liberties. Dr Prakash Chandra Bhattarai observed that civic space today faces new and growing challenges. He viewed academia has struggled to remain politically neutral. “Collaboration among civil society actors is imperative to nurture democratic values and system,” he added. Other participants, however, urged the civil society itself to gain public trust.