Introduction

“World Women’s Day” or “International Women’s Day” falls on the 8th of the month of March every year according to the English or Gregorian calendar. On the occasion of this very important day, on behalf of the “Nepali Patro” family, we would like to express our best wishes and respect to all the women, including sisters, mothers, grandmothers, and all the women around the world. This Day is a day dedicated to women.

A study of the various sources, details, and information available about this day reveals that “World Women’s Day” or “International Women’s Day” has been celebrated since the beginning of the 19th century onwards. Earlier, also this day was known as “International Women’s Day”, which is used even today.  

There are various documents available which can be found according to which, at the very beginning of this day’s celebration, this day was used to be called “International and World Hard-Working Women’s Day”.

But, with the passage of time, as the practice of celebrating this day gradually spread on in various International Countries, it can be said that the name also changed to “World Women’s Day”.

Women’s Day Worldwide Commitment

Women’s day is celebrated with grandeur in almost all the countries of the world including Nepal with slogans for the upliftment of women’s power and official equality in all sectors.

On this occasion, of Women’s Day a kind of “International Culture and Ritual” has also been developed, according to which “World Women’s Day” is celebrated with various activities and programs all over the world. 

As the world draws to the latter half of the 21st century, nowadays every nation in the world is working to unite every woman’s right as well as their power in the world. All these nations are becoming more empowered and conscious through relentless efforts, for the continuation of World Women’s Day as an important celebration.

And, in order to fulfill the above-mentioned objectives, as it is necessary to move towards a new dimension with full confidence, thus it can be seen that all of the countries in the world are indeed doing so. 

Celebrations of Women’s Day in Nepal and around the World

Various governmental and non-governmental organizations in the world related to women’s rights organize various powerful programs on the occasion of this day.

Such programs are celebrated all over the world, including Nepal, with peaceful slogans and rallies, gatherings, and seminars, advocating for a number of powerful campaigns to end gender inequality, domestic violence against women, and various inequalities between men and women. 

In Nepal too, various programs are organized and observed on this day to ensure the rights and interests of women, as well as to ensure equal opportunities for men and women in each and every field.

In the same way, it can also be seen that conscious and educated people from all walks of life are working together for the fulfillment of these objectives as well. This day has also been declared as a public holiday for women in Nepal and some other countries of the world. 

At present, works are underway so as to bring women under the concept of equal social rights not only in Nepal but all over the world. All organizations with various women’s rights activists of the world working with an aim to empower women is a very well-known issue these days. 

In this way, for the political, familial, educational, and other rights of women, all the organizations including governmental and non-governmental with their responsibility to empower the women are working closely together with Women’s Rights Activists. 

On this day, on the occasion of Women’s Day, various programs are organized by governmental and non-governmental organizations as well as women’s rights activists and the general public as well, by organizing rallies, etc. carrying placards related to women’s rights from various places of Kathmandu and beyond.

Nepal’s Progress on Gender Equality

On the occasion of this Women’s Day, we Nepalese can never ever ignore the fact that we have already chosen women not just in other levels but even at the topmost leadership level of the nation as well, i.e. the second President of The Peoples Federal Republic of Nepal. 

But, though we have already chosen a woman at the leadership level of the country, due to the weak laws, legal provisions, and the centuries-old patriarchal and gender structure existing in Nepali society, many incidents of violence against women are made public in the news media on a daily basis.

Such incidents are mocking all of us Nepalese, including the lawmakers, etc. while we are celebrating “Women’s Day” programs today. Not only that, there are many examples that can still be seen, where these kinds of cases or incidents are being hidden or suppressed under various masks and political forces amidst the legal difficulties and various obstacles that still linger in the society.

Today, on this day let us unite and pledge to prevent such heinous crimes forever in this country. Let us all dedicate ourselves to women’s rights, joining hands with human rights activists, organizations, lawmakers, law-abiding people, and most importantly “the state” with all Nepalese people in general. 

In the End

Women and men are considered as two wheels of a chariot, i.e. a chariot cannot run on one wheel only. These kinds of examples are taught, even written as essays in the school.

But, when it comes to practical teaching some lessons as “My Family” as per the curriculum, children are still being taught by portraying parents in a paradoxical way for example “Baba goes to the office and mother does the housework or is a housewife”. 

While most of the schools have more female teachers compared to male teachers especially for the smaller children. Looking at these existing paradoxes is not there a serious situation where these students might get confused as the reading, writing, essays, and lessons do not match with each other? 

Nowadays, it has slowly but already started a custom for men to do housework and women to do outside work. For this reason, when educators are preparing the new curriculum, should not they also be paying attention to these new customs according to time and situations as well?  

Otherwise, if the children’s brain is imprinted by those themes as of the essays, then there is a huge possibility that the next generation would also have the mistaken understanding that woman’s place is in the kitchen and men work outside. 

And, surely this can create a problem more complicated than we have imagined so far, therefore the educators and curriculum makers must focus on these issues as well while creating a curriculum.  

As per the context of the essay, men and women are equal and the same, the work done by one should and can be done by the other too. This information, or to be precise “The Right Education” has to be propagated to the children right from the beginning of the school, included in the curriculum as well. The result of this will be producing a whole new bunch of generations with an understanding that men and women are equal. 

This is not just a random thought but it is something that cannot be denied. Because if this is implemented then this new upcoming generation will have an understanding that there is no difference between men’s work or women’s work etc. 

So, come, today on this important day, let us be grateful towards all the female characters who have made us worthy of seeing this beautiful world, who have showered us with love and affection in this precious life of ours, and who have accompanied us in every step of life as life partners.

And, let us make this Women’s Day a complete success by showing a commitment to always respect them, and to continue to do so ever after.

 Introduction “World Women’s Day” or “International Women’s Day” falls on the 8th of the month of March every year according to the English or Gregorian calendar. On the occasion of this very important day, on behalf of the “Nepali Patro” family, we would like to express our best wishes and respect to all the women, […]

Introduction of  World Press Freedom Day

World Press Freedom Day which is celebrated worldwide on 3 May, is known as Media Independence day which advocates the fundamental factor in freedom of speech. In December 1993, World Press Freedom Day was proclaimed by the “Declaration of Windhoek” by the UN General Assembly, followed by the recommendation of UNESCO’s General Conference. Since then, the third of May is observed as the anniversary of the Declaration of Windhoek and is celebrated worldwide as World Press Freedom Day, also known in other words as Media Independence Day.

“No democracy is complete without access to transparent and reliable information. It is the cornerstone for building fair and impartial institutions, holding leaders accountable, and speaking truth to power.” quotes António Guterres (António Manuel de Oliveira Guterres), United Nations Secretary-General. The complete absence and freedom without any restrain from external control, force, or influence over Media institutions or individuals working in the media.

Intimidation of Freedom of Expression and speech challenges

This day is a great day for media and an opportunity to, celebrate the fundamental principles of press freedom, evaluate the state of press freedom all over the world, defend the media from the attack on their independence, and pay homage to journalists who have lost their lives in the line of duty.

The Nepalese media these days is at the crossroad of two paths mainly the one pursued by the state government which intimidates freedom of expression and speech challenging the very existence of independent professional media. While the other path being pursued by the media community itself, in fact, a difficult path of strong and relentless struggle.

Nepalese journalists face threats and intimidation, and sometimes even detention by the state as well as ruling parties almost every day, which has tended a small handful of media personnel to do Yellow Journalism too because of the threat opposed to them.

Federation of Nepalese Journalists and Royal Coup of 2005 B.S

The journalist’s community, led mainly by the Federation of Nepalese Journalists (F.N.J), is at the frontline of this battle against those who try to press freedom in Nepal. The Royal coup, by then King Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah on February 1, 2005 was a huge attack on the media to obliterate its infrastructure on which the Nepalese media’s foundation stood, after the 1990 great event of restoration of democracy.

But, despite the government’s effort and action to curb media freedom and impose state control over them, journalists launch several Movements to protect their rights and freedom. And they achieved their freedom too. However, the media community never has faced such strong challenges from the state and non-state sectors as in the present times.

History of Media Independence Day & Media for Democracy

The 2019 Theme of Media Independence day: “Media for Democracy: Journalism and Elections in Times of Disinformation”

As of now, when we speak of media it does not only refer to the traditional newspapers, magazines, and television of the earlier days. Now in this digital media age with social media too showing their existence it is somehow different from the media of those days. Nick Couldry in 2009 said, “digital transformations tend to compromise the press as a common good (with a blurring of the difference between journalism and advertising, as an example) by the technological, political and social change that it brings within a system”, Thus, authors and writers, Daniel Hallin.

Kelly McBride and Tom Rosenstiel have considered other rules like transparency and participation to be taken in consideration which will be more relevant in the present pretext. Karppinen and Moe stated “what we talk about when speaking about media independence are the characteristics of the relations between, entities connected to or from media institutions, via journalistic cultures, to individual speakers and, on the other hand, social environment, including the state, political interest of the people plus the mainstream culture of the people in general.

Because of these factors, a trend of establishing self-regulatory bodies, as press councils, with the support of governmental and non-governmental organizations such as UNESCO is a dire need not just for self-regulation expressed as an advantageous system by journalists but also for the support of media freedom and its development.

Limits and Duty of Media Community

Defining the limits of what should or should not be carried and prioritized in the most popular digital spaces, European Commission’s 2013 publication “ICT Technology Sector Guide on Implementing the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights”, has given importance to independent journalism.
Press freedom is impossible without democracy in a country like Nepal.

Since the restoration of democracy in 1990, Nepalese media never had anticipated the audacious royal coup of February 1 would threaten the foundation of the media industry in Nepal. But, for the right of people to information, as enshrined in the 1990 constitution of Nepal, our Nepalese journalists are always fighting and will do so much more in the coming days, to safeguard the press freedom and freedom of expression in this politically volatile country. Thus, the media community, especially the journalists, are here to protect fundamental human rights and freedom of expression.

End

With such a background, the important question is how the Nepalese media community moves forward from here. Continued vigilance is the price to be paid for freedom. Since the right to information and press and publication rights have been enshrined in the current Nepal constitution, media personnel should always be vigilant, maintain solidarity and fight for their rights whatever the circumstances may be. At the same time networking at the district, the national, and international levels will be very crucial to protect the rights of media personnel in general.

Whereas another very important resolution to be taken by Media personnel as a whole is in Nepal in the present condition is refraining from “yellow journalism” especially in the current transitional period of Nepal. Therefore, the celebration of the Media Independence day will not have any significance nor any kind of value if it does not refrain from yellow journalism and gives the right news as demanded by the people for freedom of speech. Therefore, hoping the new days will dawn bringing the new age in media and press journalism, We at Nepali Patro wish to express Best Wishes to all our users and readers on this day.

Introduction of  World Press Freedom Day World Press Freedom Day which is celebrated worldwide on 3 May, is known as Media Independence day which advocates the fundamental factor in freedom of speech. In December 1993, World Press Freedom Day was proclaimed by the “Declaration of Windhoek” by the UN General Assembly, followed by the recommendation […]