With just days before Ecuador heads to the polls again, six national and international press freedom organizations have addressed presidential candidates Luisa González and Daniel Noboa. They called on the candidates to publicly commit to respecting and protecting news workers. In a joint statement, the groups warned of the growing deterioration of the environment for journalism, marked by threats, censorship, violence, and a troubling use of state machinery to silence critical voices.
"Ecuador is facing an unprecedented security crisis, driven by organized crime, weakened institutions, and rising social conflict," the organizations said. "In this context, journalism has become a high-risk activity. Along with physical violence, there is stigmatization from the government, abusive legal actions, digital censorship, and restrictions on access to information."
The organizations are demanding the presidential hopefuls "publicly and concretely commit to ensuring full respect for the principles of freedom of expression enshrined in the Constitution and the international human rights treaties the country has signed."
The statement is signed by the Committee to Protect Journalists, Inter American Press Association, Reporters Without Borders, Foundation for Press Freedom, Fundamedios, and Journalists Without Chains.
