People working in the sectors of human rights and journalism have urged the media houses to deter sexual harassment and violence in the workplace.

Speakers at a program organized by a government taskforce in the Capital on Monday said violence against women was perpetrated by the male colleagues in some media but legal action was not taken on the guilty, according to state-owned RSS news agency.

Taskforce coordinator Renu Rajbhandari said the program was organized to garner suggestions from the concerned sectors. The taskforce will prepare a report, making recommendations how the media could be made women friendly and free of sexual harassment.

Chairman of Federation of Nepali Journalists, Shiva Gaunle, said anyone could file complaints, if any, about sexual harassment and violence in media.

Director General at Department of Information, Laxmi Bilas Koirala, said it would be difficult to take punitive measures against perpetrators and cater justice to the victims when the journalists are employed without providing appointment letters.

Vice-Chairperson of Sancharika Samuha, Suchitra Shrestha, Subechchha Bindu Tuladhar of Working Women Journalists, and journalist Kamala Panthi and others urged the taskforce to take measures deter sexual harassment and violence at the workplace in media houses. nepalnews.com