Kathmandu, Dec 10: Minister for Communication and Information Technology Jagadish Kharel underscored the need for everyone to work in unison to reduce the digital violence.
While addressing a panel discussion themed ‘Gender-based Violence and the Role of Media’ organized by the Sancharika Samuha here today, Minister Kharel acknowledged the ‘dual responsibility’ bearing the female journalists to protect themselves from digital violence.
The Minister described that the dual responsibility includes ensuring their safety first and also creating a safe environment in the media sector. He suggested, “our news, contents and advocacy should be free from digital violence.”
Noting the changing nature and forms of gender-based violence, Minister Kharel encouraged the female media professionals to keep themselves safe from digital violence and called for a campaign against violence against women through digital platforms while maintaining personal safety.
He saw the urgency to hold discussions on digital violence, stating that the technology has made life easier but it has also brought fear. The Minister pressed for using technology responsibly.
He also noted that the society and country are gradually embracing equity and the increasing participation of women in politics, civil service, journalism and various social positions had spurred positive outcomes.
Recalling a ‘chance’ meeting with present Prime Minister Sushila Karki and former President Bidya Devi Bhandari also the first female President of the country, the Minister shared the meetings with the two historical personalities as ‘insightful’.
He went on recollecting what the first female President of the country-Bhandari- had remarked during his meet-up, “Jagadish ji, you are a man and we are women. When you break a stick, we have to smash three. We have come to this far through immense struggle and this reflects the ongoing battle of Nepali women for their careers.”
Minister Kharel commended that the struggles of women journalists in reaching this point was ‘unique’, ‘unparallel’ and ‘significant’ for Nepali media.
On a different note, Minister Kharel, also the spokesperson of government, said that the incumbent government is working intensively to conduct election within the stipulated time (March 5, 2026) and to maintain good-governance and curbing corruption in line with the sentiments of the Gen-Z uprising in last September
He divulged that the incumbent interim government had already taken forward to open over 25 significant corruption and irregularity cases.
Also speaking on the occasion, Information Secretary Radhika Aryal expressed her concern over the increasing cases of digital violence in the recent time.
Echoing with Minister Kharel, she called for unified efforts to reduce digital violence. Kharel asserted that the gender-based violence is a barrier to human rights.
Likewise, Sancharika Samuha’s Chairperson Kamala Panthi highlighted the effective role of media against digital violence.
Similarly, Working Women Journalists Association’s Chair Ramkala Khadka, Press Council Nepal’s member Nima Kafle among others participants had univocally admitted that the workplace violence still exists and the digital violence was on rise.
They also called for collective effort to reduce workplace violence as well as digital violence.
