Kathmandu, March 27: A multi-stakeholder workshop on ‘Safeguarding Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in South Asia’ concluded in Kathmandu by stressing rights-based governance of digital platform on Friday.
The four-day regional workshop was organized by UNESCO in collaboration with the Central Department of Journalism and Mass Communications of Tribhuvan University, and with the support of the European Union.
It also dwelt on the implementation of UNESCO Guidelines for the Governance of Digital Platforms as part of the Internet for Trust (I4T) Initiative.
More than 90 participants, including regulators, parliamentarians, policymakers, civil society representatives, journalists, academics, youth leaders, and digital governance experts from Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives was moment to review findings from national consultations, validate draft regional toolkits, and shape a shared vision of rights-based digital platform governance across South Asia, according to UNESCO, Kathmandu.
At the opening, UNESCO Regional Advisor for South Asia, Ma’aly Hazzaz, highlighted the importance of a balanced, context‑sensitive approach to regional digital governance.
“The Internet for Trust Guidelines offers a powerful framework for South Asia to advance inclusive, rights‑based digital governance. The strength of this regional initiative lies not in imposing identical solutions, but in building coherent safeguards that reflect local realities while upholding universal principles of freedom of expression and public trust,” she underlined.
Similarly, Ambassador of the European Union to Nepal, Veronique Lorenzo, stated, “We’re really proud to support UNESCO’s global initiative Internet for Trust that reflects our shared vision on the digital future that is human-centered. In an evolving global context, protecting freedom of expression and ensuring access to reliable information is not a matter of choice; these are essential pillars of democratic, inclusive and resilient societies.”
In a press statement, the UNESCO Kathmandu mentioned that over four days of intensive dialogue, participants examined the evolving digital platform governance landscape in Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka.
Drawing on lessons from national consultations, they identified common governance gaps and regulatory challenges, including threats to freedom of expression, misinformation, and the urgent need for greater platform accountability and transparency. #nepal #rss
