"Nicaragua has informed UNESCO of its withdrawal from the organization, in response to the press freedom prize awarded to an opposition newspaper, the UN agency announced Sunday [May 4].
'I regret this decision, which will deprive the people of Nicaragua of the benefits of cooperation in areas such as education and culture,' UNESCO Director General Audrey Azoulay said.
Under UNESCO's Constitution, the withdrawal of Nicaragua, a member since 1952, will be effective Dec. 31, 2026.
On Saturday [May 3], UNESCO awarded its Guillermo Cano press freedom prize to the daily newspaper La Prensa, for ‘bringing the truth to the people of Nicaragua,’ despite the ‘repression’ and ‘exile’ of its journalists. The Nicaraguan government called the award given to the newspaper ‘shameful’ and described it as a ‘diabolical spawn of Nicaraguan anti-patriotism.’"
