WPFD 2010: UNESCO Kathmandu Office

Dialogue on Freedom of Information: Right to Know (2-3 May 2010; Kathmandu, Biratnagar, Eastern region, and Nepalgunj, Midwestern region)

UNESCO's theme for celebrating World Press Freedom Day on May 3 this year is very timely and relevant for a country like Nepal, which is among the countries in the world whose Constitution guarantees the right to information and where a Right to Information Act has also been passed more than a year ago. In order to ensure that the news media in particular and the Nepali people in general avail of the benefits of this Act to the maximum possible extent, the Nepal Press Institute proposed UNESCO Nepal Office to support the organization of a one-day brainstorming exercise on 2 May in Kathmandu, and on 3 May in both the Eastern and Midwestern regions. 

The focus will be on existing legal provisions, difficulties faced in obtaining information and the steps needed toward a better informed society. The seminar will be titled "Dialogue on Freedom of Information: Right to Know". The discussion should also contribute to the process of incorporating relevant clauses in the new Constitution. 

Senior journalists, media academics, lawyers and Constituent Assembly members will be invited to participate and present papers. In all, a set of three working papers will be presented by three experts, and three prominent personalities will moderate each of the sessions. Further, the Information Commission will be approached for close consultation, and the first of the working papers presented will be used to lead the working session. 

Contact information: Mr. Yadab Bastola, Communication and Information Unit, UNESCO office in Kathmandu, Nepal 
Tel: 977-1-5554396/ 5554769 Ext 23