Defending Rights of Journalists & Freedom of Expression in South Asia

Featured Action Nepal: The Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) organised a leadership trainingsession in Biratnagar on September 24. The training, supported by the IFJ andFredrich Ebert Stiftung (FES) involved thirty-five young journalists and was facilitatedby media expert and former FNJ chair Dr Suresh Prasad Acharya. Maldives: On September 29, the Maldives Journalists Association (MJA) held severalprograms to mark International Day for Universal Access to Information, to promotegovernment transparency and accountability. MJA General Secretary NaifAhmed participated in a panel discussion organised by the office of the MaldivianInformation Commissioner. Ahmed stressed the importance of the voluntary disclosureof information through the government’s e-portal. Bhutan: On October 4, the Journalists Association of Bhutan (JAB) conducted adiscussion with rural women, aiming to bring marginalised perspectives into themainstream media landscape. The exercise was conducted in four rural areas ofBhutan, with OxMedia journalists Nidup Gyeltshen and Tshering Dorji talking to theparticipants about the value of their voices in media and the importance of medialiteracy. Pakistan: On September 30, a joint PFUJ and Center for Democracy and ClimateStudies (CDCS) seminar in Punjab highlighted the importance of the PFUJ in ensuringpress freedom is respected, new media laws are conducive to better workingconditions for media workers, and that disinformation and fake news are challenged injournalistic practice.