Nepal: Attack on Anita Ghimire, Colleagues During Protest Coverage Raises Concerns for Safety of Journalists
October 22, 2024 - Pokhara, Nepal
Women Press Freedom strongly condemns the violent attack on Nepalese journalist Anita Ghimire during her coverage of a protest in Pokhara on October 20. This assault on journalists is a clear violation of press freedom in Nepal.
We are deeply concerned about the lack of safety for journalists, who often work without adequate protection.
Ghimire, along with male colleagues, was manhandled while covering protests against a politician's arrest. She was exercising her right to report when she faced retaliation. Ghimire shared that the protesters specifically targeted journalists critical of the politician, damaging their cameras.
We call on Nepalese authorities to ensure the protection of journalists and punish those responsible for this attack. Violence against journalists cannot be tolerated.