UNESCO Warns of Shrinking Media Space, Urges Ethiopia to Lock In Safeguards for Journalists

Mintesinot Niggusie

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization has called on Ethiopia to strengthen legal protections for journalists and guarantee access to information, warning that global press freedom is facing sustained pressure.

The appeal was made during a World Press Freedom Day commemoration organised by the Ethiopian Mass Media Council under the theme “Shaping the future for peace: safeguarding press freedom in the digital age.”

UNESCO said the space for independent media is narrowing due to rising attacks on journalists, the spread of misinformation, economic pressures on media institutions and increasing censorship trends.

Speaking on behalf of the Director of the UNESCO Liaison Office in Addis Ababa, Rita Bissoonauth, Getu Assefa said press freedom is under growing strain globally, citing findings from UNESCO’s latest global trends report on freedom of expression and media development.

The report showed that 93 journalists were killed while on duty in the previous year, alongside what it described as rising threats to media workers and increasing financial vulnerability within the sector. UNESCO said safeguarding press freedom requires coordinated action from governments, media organisations, civil society and international partners.

It urged the Ethiopian government to uphold legal protections, ensure access to information and reinforce measures that guarantee the safety and independence of journalists. Media organisations were also encouraged to strengthen professional standards, ethics and public trust, while civil society groups were called on to promote accountability and inclusiveness in the media environment.

UNESCO reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Ethiopia’s efforts to strengthen freedom of expression, media development and journalist safety, noting that it has recently supported two major initiatives in the country.