Nepal

NAMCHE BAZAAR, MAY 3

Journalists from the South Asia region have gathered in the Everest region to mark the World's Press Freedom today.

Under the theme 'A Press for the Planet: Journalism in the Face of the Environmental Crisis', Nepal Forum of Science Journalists brought media persons together at the Sagarmatha National Park in Namche bazaar marking the 'World Press Freedom Day', said NFSJ President Rajan Pokhrel.

It's a high time journalists needed to raise voices of the Himalayan communities as they have already started bearing the brunt of climate crisis, Pokhrel said addressing the event.

We are delighted to mark this special day in the Everest region as a side event of the Himalayan Climate Boot Camp - 2024, said HCBC project lead Chhatra Karki.

Speaking on the occasion, senior conservation officer at Sagarmatha National Park Sushma Rana said that all should unite for the conservation of mountain ecosystem. "Journalists' role is crucial in this regard," she said.

Lalan Yadav, Livestock Technician at Yak Breeding Centre at Syangboche, said that he noticed the drastic changes in biodiversity and ecology in the Khumbu region in the past two decades.

According to Karki, at least 13 journalists from Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and India, along with experts and environmentalists, have been taking part in the historic event.

"Climate crisis is here and journalists must report from the ground," Karki emphasized.

Fellow journalists Athar Parvaiz and Nidhi Jamwal from India, Chencho Dema from Bhutan and Jahidul Islam from Bangladesh as well as Tank Dhakal, Mahesh KC, Ridhi Agrawal and Kamala Pakhrin from Nepal also shared their experiences on the occasion. They said they were very delighted to mark the day in SNP.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) has recommended that the Governments must end impunity for cases of attacks against journalists covering environmental issues. Under their international obligations, governments must thoroughly investigate and sanction all cases of violence against journalists covering environmental issues.

"This requires pursuing and exhausting lines of inquiry connected to the victim's journalistic work. Additionally, governments should improve existing prevention mechanisms and strengthen protective measures to effectively counter the threats faced by journalists covering the environment," it said.