Nepal can do much better

Journalists and state agencies are both to blame for the low ranking in the press freedom index.

Nepal's press freedom situation in the year 2021 is a mixed feeling. On the one hand, there were no major incidents of press freedom violations (such as deaths, tortures or disappearances) reported in the year. On the other hand, there were no significant improvements in the press freedom situation either. The year began with political protests and demonstrations across the country after then prime minister KP Sharma Oli dissolved Parliament twice, causing adverse activities that obstructed access to information for journalists; increased threats, abuses and attacks against journalists by different actors; and raised concerns regarding the professional safety of journalists, their information and equipment. The Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ), the umbrella organisation of all journalists across the country, recorded 61 incidents of press freedom violations in 2021 that included four arrests, 10 obstructions to information collection, 32 threats and misbehaviours, five attacks, nine journalists' professional safety issues, and one policy restriction.