Media Freedom and the Safety of Journalists in Nepal: A Gender Perspective [UPR, 2025]
This joint stakeholder submission for Nepal’s fourth cycle of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR), Media Freedom and the Safety of Journalists in Nepal: A Gender Perspective, was prepared by Media Action Nepal and ARTICLE 19 following national consultations held in May 2025, which engaged women journalists and diverse civil society voices from across the country. The key recommendations of this report were presented during the UPR pre-session on Nepal as a formal statement in Geneva, Switzerland, on 28 November 2025 by Laxman Datt Pant, Founding Chair of Media Action Nepal.
Media Action Nepal, established in 2015, is a leading Nepali civil society organization dedicated to promoting freedom of expression, the safety of journalists, the right to information, and media accountability, while ARTICLE 19, founded in 1987, is a global organization advancing freedom of expression and information through advocacy, legal intervention, and partnerships worldwide.
While we welcome the Government of Nepal’s efforts in preparing its national report, we note that structured and inclusive consultations with independent media, journalists, and civil society were limited, and we urge transparent and participatory engagement in future UPR processes in line with UN guidance. This submission focuses on media freedom and journalist safety through a gender and intersectional lens, highlighting that despite constitutional guarantees, Nepal’s legal environment remains restrictive and the safety of journalists—particularly women and those from marginalized communities—has significantly deteriorated.
While we welcome the Government of Nepal’s efforts in preparing its national report, we note that structured and inclusive consultations with independent media, journalists, and civil society were limited, and we urge transparent and participatory engagement in future UPR processes in line with UN guidance.