Supporting safety of journalists in Nepal

Developed following the endorsement of the UN Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity in 2013, the Journalists' Safety Indicators (JSI) pinpoint significant matters that show or impact the safety of journalists and the issue of impunity. The JSIs establish a mapping of key features that can help assess the extent to which journalists are able to carry out their work under safe conditions and determine whether adequate follow-up is given to crimes committed against them. 

This report assesses the national media safety landscape for journalists in Nepal. Though there is considerable growth in terms of quantity in the media sector in Nepal, journalism remains professionally weak and economically insecure, and the journalists are in highly vulnerable condition in terms of physical and psychological safety. Nearly half of the journalists do not have any appointment letter or contract from their employers, and low wages, irregular payments, poor working conditions, and declining credibility among the public characterize the journalism profession in Nepal. Journalists perceive that they are prone to be victimised by both State and non-State actors, and the prolonged political transition has further complicated their security situation.