Equal Access
Digital Broadcast Initiative, Equal Access Nepal was established as an NGO in Nepal in February 2004. This initiative, that utilized digital satellite broadcasting technology to bring vital development information directly to underserved communities in rural settings, was formally launched in Kathmandu on June 24, 2003. Since then, Equal Access has continued to implement numerous ‘communications for development’ projects in Nepal, with programming on a range of thematic areas including education, healthcare, microfinance, sustainable agriculture, human rights and conflict management, HIV/AIDS and women’s empowerment. Equal Access projects are designed to reach the broadest possible audience in culturally appropriate and cost effective ways By April 2008, 100 multimedia sites were setup by Equal Access Nepal in different rural parts of the country. More than anything else, Equal access’s initiative has helped in overcoming the bias of English associated with Internet. Information in this age has become the key to growth and access or denial of access to information greatly affects the economic and social conditions of any place. Unfortunately, a large share of the rural population of Nepal are underprivileged and do not possess basic information on a wide number of issues. In such a scenario Equal Access entered into collaboration with several partners for developing software and technology for data casting multimedia to rural sites in Nepal using the World Space Satellite Technology. Using this technology set up, Equal Access today has been disseminating various information materials on health; women’s issues such as domestic violence, rape, girls trafficking; Youth issues; HIV/AIDS; and education.
What we deliver
Through the two web sites we deliver content in different forms include audio, video, text, SMS, pictures etc. Additionally, in service part we deliver training to high-level and mid-career journalists on Media Law, Rights, Conflict Sensitivity and how to work in Conflict-affected environment. We produce radio program in weekly basis which talks about media security, safety and media code conduct. In this initiative one main service we are providing to journalist in legal aid to those journalists who are working at-most-risk environment. Likewise periodic review of media content and report dissemination based on the finding is also the service that MEDIA initiative is delivering.
Why is the project unique?
The project is unique in a number of ways: (i) it would create the first ever strategic media legal defense fund, putting those who harm or threaten media workers on notice that they can expect a concerted legal response; (ii) it would apply emerging technological tools such as Ushahidi and FrontlineSMS and the power of social networking to media freedom challenges in Nepal; (iii) the initiative would use a range of transparency tools to place an emphasis on the responsibility of media workers to ply their trade within established professional Codes of Conduct and (iv) through an innovative approach to cascading training the Initiative can provide training to thousands of Nepalese media workers, including women and those from minority groups. Together these elements will break the cycle of the abuse of media freedoms, allowing the media to be a true foundation for democracy in Nepal. The MEDIA initiative would tap into technologies that are available now and establish two innovative online and mobile phone based information sharing platforms one for media workers and one for the general public. It will train more than 2,000 media workers, set up Nepal’s first ever legal resource facility for journalists under threat or who have been victims of violence or corruption, and educate millions of Nepalese on media rights through dozens of print articles, national radio program episodes and a national television documentary. By combining simultaneous unique interventions within the media sector and through the public, courts and government, the MEDIA Initiative will ensure that the decade long successful growth of independent media in Nepal is a foundation for growing stability, not a victim of the forces threatening to tear Nepal apart.
Contact
Equal Access Nepal
Binaya Guragain
Jhamsikhel, Lalitpur , Kathmandu
Nepal 446010
URL/Website – http://equalaccess.org.np
