Experts call for revising existing Press Council Act to make it more gender-friendly

Published On: December 14, 2022 08:45 AM NPT By: Republica | @RepublicaNepal

KATHMANDU, Dec 14: Experts have demanded an amendment to the existing Press Council Act 2048 BS to make it more gender-friendly.

Addressing a program organized by Press Council Nepal in partnership with UNESCO in Kathmandu on Tuesday, they maintained that all media related Acts, laws, regulations and directives in Nepal require a thorough revision to make them compatible with the Gender Sensitive Media Policy.

Newly-elected member of the House of Representatives (HoR) from Rastriya Swatantra Party Sobita Gautam said that Article 15 of the Press Council Act 2048 BS that concerns delegation of authority should be revised. Speaking on the sensationalization of news, she said, “The media should be sensitive regarding what part of a person’s personal life can be published and what not. Regarding such sensationalized media content, the public should not act as the judiciary of their own on gender sensitive issues and should seek legal clarity.”

Spokesperson at Nepal Press Council, Dipak Khanal said that the three decades old act can not address the major issues of today. While stating that the emergence of new media has already created a new set of challenges, Khanal emphasized on the need to make timely revision of such acts.

Reviewing the recommendations of Women Responsive Communication Directives, Dr Samiksha Koirala said, “There should be gender media monitoring and a focus on the news coverage and representation of gender through the media content.”

Also addressing the function, Nepali Congress (NC) General Secretary and newly-elected lawmaker from Kathmandu-4, Gagan Thapa, urged Press Council Nepal to take initiative to bring amendments in all press related Acts, laws, regulations and directives. “Gender insensitivity can result from intellectual and emotional conflict,” he said, while expressing commitment to play an effective role in the parliament to get revised legislation endorsed.

Similarly, National Assembly member Dr Bimala Rai Paudyal argued that all the problems that the country is facing now cannot be resolved without making the media accountable.

Other speakers in the program highlighted the need to provide social security in the province and practice self-editing and regulating media content to be gender sensitive and maintain accountability.