ISLAMABAD, March 17: International press freedom mission comprising 12 international organizations, including a UN agency, global media associations, freedom of expression advocates and media development organizations will visit Nepal from March 20- 25.

The joint mission’s visit is in response to continued violations of press freedom and freedom of expression in Nepal, said a statement by International Media Support (IMS), which is coordinating the mission.

This is the second mission to visit Nepal to further the cause of press freedom and freedom of expression. The previous mission visited Nepal in July 2005.

The IMS statement said: “Inclusion of more organizations demonstrates the ever growing concern of the international community about the situation in the country”.

The organizations participating in the mission include Article 19, Free Voice, International Federation of Journalists, International Freedom of Expression Exchange, International Media Support, International News Safety Institute, International Press Institute, Reporters Sans Frontiers, South Asia Press Commission, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco), World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters, World Press Freedom Committee.

Besides, three other international organizations — Committee to Protect Journalists, Press Institute of India and World Association of Newspapers — which participated in the July 2005 mission, are supporting the return mission in March 2006.

The members of the mission will meet with a broad cross- section of the Nepalese media community to discuss the press freedom and freedom of expression situation.

They will also meet with key institutions and decision- makers among the national authorities, security forces and other parties to stress respect for press freedom and freedom of expression.

The mission is organized in Nepal by the Federation of Nepalese Journalists in collaboration with a group of 28 Nepalese organizations, institutes and networks.