November 2, marks the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists. The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed November 2 as the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists on December 18, 2013, following the assassination of two French journalists in Mali on November 2, 2013. Subsequently, UN Member States and international organizations began officially observing the day on November 2, 2014. Theme for this year's observance is: Threats Evolve, Impunity Endures!
On this occasion, FF once again strongly urges state authorities and relevant institutions to take concrete measures to end impunity for crimes against journalists.
The Nepali media fraternity continues to bear the brunt of injustices suffered during the decade-long armed conflict that began in 1996. The families of journalists who were killed or forcefully disappeared in attacks by the armed Maoist and state security forces during the conflict and post-conflict era are still awaiting justice. These cases remain pending in the transitional justice commissions.
Journalists are frontline human rights defenders and they were not direct parties to the conflict. Therefore, cases involving crimes against journalists should not have fallen under the jurisdiction of transitional justice commissions. However, these cases were referred to the commissions and remain unresolved. This long wait for justice clearly demonstrates how deeply entrenched impunity has become in Nepal.
Freedom Forum has consistently raised voice demanding justice for journalists killed or forcefully disappeared during and after the armed conflict. Conflict-era cases involving slain journalists Nabaraj Sharma ‘Basanta’, Krishna Bahadur Sen, Gopal Giri, Ishwor Budhathoki, Kumar Ghimire, Dev Kumar Acharya, Raj Kumar KC, Kamal AC, Maheswori Pahari and Ambika Timilsena, which were registered with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) remain unresolved. Similarly, no concrete steps have been taken to initiate investigations and prosecutions in the cases of slain journalists Jagat Prasad Joshi, Khagendra Shrestha and Devi Prasad Dhital who were murdered after the Comprehensive Peace Accord (CPA). Other pending cases are of Jamim Shah, who was shot dead in Kathmandu and Rohan Chaudhary and Ganesh Chaudhary who died in the Madhesh movement in 2015.
Moreover, whereabouts of disappeared journalists during insurgency - Dhan Bahadur Rokaya Magar and Milan Nepal and later- Madan Poudel and Prakash Singh Thakuri remain unknown. Among those, cases of Magar and Nepali are pending in the commission.
Furthermore, violence against journalists in Nepal has neither come to an end nor have their demands for justice been addressed. In the most recent case, Suresh Rajak, a journalist with Avenues Television, was killed while covering a pro-monarchy rally in Tinkune, Kathmandu, on March 28, 2025. Justice remains elusive in this case. An impartial investigation to establish facts and uncover truth behind his killing is still awaited. The state has shown little interest in holding accountable those involved in the crime.
Similarly, journalists Shambhu Dangal, Dipendra Dhungana, Shyam Shrestha and Umesh Karki, who sustained bullet injuries during police action against the Gen Z movement on September 8, 2025, are also awaiting investigation and justice. No one has been held accountable or punished in connection with these incidents. Two commissions – Gauri Bahadur Karki Commission and National Human Rights Commission- investigated into the violence during the movement on September 8 and 9 and published their reports recommending independent probe against those responsible for violence and death of youths. However, no concrete action has been taken to address these concerns. This alarming continuation of impunity seriously undermines the rule of law and press freedom in Nepal.
This situation is further reflected in FF's reports which show that total 103 journalists, including 91 men and 12 women, were affected in press freedom violations across Nepal between November 1, 2025 and October 31, 2026. Additionally, recent security personnel crackdown into media offices and arrest of journalists indicate growing threat to press freedom and journalists' safety.
In this context, FF calls upon the government and all concerned stakeholders to:
- Ensure accountability and justice for crimes against journalists.
- Pursue conflict-era cases of crimes against journalists through the regular criminal justice system instead of transitional justice mechanisms.
- Reaffirm commitment and strengthen efforts to address the persistent problem of impunity for crimes against journalists.
- Stand in solidarity with victim journalists and their families who continue to seek justice.
