The Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) has issued Godawari Declaration to conserve and promote freedom of expression, press freedom, right to information and civic rights.

The federation issued the four-point declaration after discussing with the editors and its former chairpersons at Godawari.

The gathering, comprising editors from major media outlets and former FNJ chairpersons, declared the provisions of the new Criminal Code, its procedure including crime against the state, crime against public peace, defamation, and privacy seriously undermines freedoms of expression and the press. “These provisions must be immediately amended,” said the FNJ.

These laws have criminalised the possible offences due to publications and broadcasting medium besides criminalising the section 15 of the Press and Publication Act, the forum said. “Criminalisation of defamation, privacy and publication is objectionable and that needs to be corrected at the earliest,” the FNJ said in its declaration.  

Instead of strengthening the right to privacy of a citizen, the forum said, the draft Bill on Protection of Individual’s Right to Privacy has an ill intent to keep information on public figures and institutions secret, obstruct free press and thwart the right to information.

Rejecting the draft bill, currently under discussion in the parliament, the forum urged lawmakers and political parties to amend these contentious provisions.

The journalist forum plans to establish an eminent persons group to discuss the regulatory provisions in the new laws regarding freedom of expression, press freedom and right to information and put pressure on the government to amend them.