The Prime Minister expressed the commitment while addressing a programme "Role of media houses for reducing gender-based violence" organised by the Office of the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers, Ministry of Information and Communications and Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) here on Tuesday.[break]
Stating that there was a risk that cases of violence, discrimination and exploitation against women would hamper the democratic republican, Prime Minister Dr. Bhattarai said the building of justice, inclusive and proportional society would be possible only by the state free from gender-based violence.
He said there was need of changing behaviors and mentality for the end of violence against women and guaranteeing of equality and development and added that media houses could play a great significant role in creating public awareness to the end.
Prime Minister Dr. Bhattarai stated that 64 per cent women in Nepal are still victimized by violence against them and added that of them only 20 per cent women take legal treatment.
He said violence free Nepal would be built only if women could maintain their rights to their body, property, labour and power.
Saying the government has been providing support for the development and expansion of media, the prime Minister said that there was need of creating gender-friendly environment in media.
On the occasion, Minister for Information and Communications, Raj Kishor Yadav said that the country could not achieve prosperity in political, social and economic sectors as the cases of violence against women are still prevalent in the Nepali society.
Similarly, Minister for Women, Children and Social Welfare, Badri Prasad Neupane said that there was need of joining hands by one and all to end domestic violence against women.
Chief Secretary Lilamani Paudel underlined the need of increasing an access of rural people to media.
Likewise, Chairperson of the National Women´s Commission, Sheikh Chandtara said that the media houses have been making great contributions to exposing cases against women and creating pressure to book guilty.
President of FNJ, Shiva Gaunle, stressed the need of maintaining news balance and making news desk inclusive by media houses.
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