An interaction program entitled “Implementation of Right to Information Integrating Gender Dimension”, was jointly organized by Media Advocacy Group in joint collaboration of UN Women on 29th December 2015 at Yak Palace, Lalitpur. The interaction program was focused on raising awareness on implementing the Right to Information (RTI) Act and analysis of RTI from gender perspective.

Ms. Babita Basnet, President of MAG, gave presentation on the RTI Act of Nepal- its implementing process, use, and analysis from Gender dimension. The Panelists for the program were Mr. Kiran Pokharel (Information Commissioner, National Information Commission), Ms. Anita Bindu (Vice President, Federation of Nepali Journalists) and Ms. Laxmi Humagain (Co-Spokesperson, Election Commission). A total of 39 participants included Journalists and activist, local media representatives, government officials, head of women wings from political parties, civil society members and stakeholders.

The major findings of the program were:

–  Need for gender balance in the executive, legislative and judiciary level.

–  Need for the infiltration of concept of democracy amongst the masses so that they can grasp onto the idea of Right to Information (RTI).

–  Need to get past the myth that RTI is only for the journalists; transparency of information through the media.

–  Men and women both should be equal counterparts in proliferation of RTI act through a gender dimension in Nepal because women are disproportionately affected in general but lack of men’s participation could be detrimental.

–  The mechanism on implementation of RTI Act should be dis-aggregated according to GESI and not heterogeneously because general approach, again, misses out on the marginalized groups. For instance; women in the urban areas and women in the rural areas have difference in sources, outreach, knowledge, language et cetera.