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Ecuador

Concern in Ecuador over proposal to revive 'Gag Law' on media

"Xavier Lasso, a national assembly member from the Citizens’ Revolution party, said in an interview that his legislative agenda includes reintroducing a new Communication Law 'with the experience we already have.' He spoke on the program Ingobernables on February 13, 2025. His statements add to previous comments by Citizens’ Revolution presidential candidate Luisa González, who […]

Journalists in Ecuador faced restrictions covering presidential election

The free speech advocacy organization Fundamedios documented more than 10 cases of journalists facing obstacles to reporting on Ecuador’s presidential election on February 9. Restrictions included being prevented from filming inside polling stations, according to their records. At least three journalists were removed from the premises and forced to delete footage. In other cases, electoral […]

RSF urges Ecuador's next administration to prioritize journalist safety

“As Ecuador’s presidential election campaign enters its final stretch ahead of the vote on Feb. 9, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) urges all candidates to make enforcing journalists’ safety a chief goal. At least 19 journalists have been forced into exile in the past two years, a sign that the country’s deepening security crisis is pushing […]

Ecuadoran police accuse and detain journalist for violating curfew

“Journalist Yixon Ordóñez, from the outlet Novedades Sucumbíos, was detained by the national police the night of Jan. 12 after being accused of violating the curfew. Ordóñez spent 16 hours in custody before a judge issued his release order. A decree signed by President Daniel Noboa declared a state of emergency and curfew in various […]

RSF report analyzes journalist safety programs in five Latin American countries

"Ensuring a safe environment for journalists remains a critical challenge for Latin America's democracies. Since 2000, at least 338 journalists have been killed in the region, highlighting the urgent need for protection mechanisms to counter systemic violence. In a new report, Reporters Without Borders (RSF, for its initials in French) analyzed journalist protection programs in […]

Ecuadoran journalist Leonardo Rivas is murdered in Guayas province

“Ecuadoran journalist Leonardo Rivas, news director of the digital radio station Cariñosa, was murdered on Saturday [Nov. 23] in an attack attributed to hitmen in the province of Guayas, one of the most affected by the insecurity crisis in Ecuador. The radio station confirmed the tragic event on its Facebook account, saying that Rivas was […]

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RSF urges protection for journalists amid rising violence in Ecuador

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has raised concerns over the alarming increase in violence against journalists in Ecuador, where at least six incidents were reported in just one month. RSF is calling on the Ecuadorian government to take immediate action to ensure the safety of journalists and protect the right to information. "The escalation in violence […]

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CONNECTAS offers grants to report on environmental crimes in the Amazonian region of Colombia, Ecuador and Perú

The investigative journalism platform CONNECTAS announced it’s receiving applications for grants with the aim of supporting journalists and communicators interested in investigating environmental crimes and their possible solutions in the Amazon region. The initiative will focus specifically on Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. Applicants will be able to propose stories, reports, or investigations that address this […]

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Ecuadoran judge issues ruling in case that 'sets positive precedent' for freedom of expression

A judge from Ecuador, in the province of Loja, handed down a ruling that “sets a precedent for the abusive use of judicial power to persecute any dissident voice,” according to the NGO Fundamedios. The July 22 ruling annulled a decision taken last June by the Cantonal Board for the Protection of Rights that, among […]

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Murderers of presidential candidate and journalist Fernando Villavicencio get 34 years in prison in Ecuador

"Five people linked to one of the largest criminal gangs in Ecuador were convicted of the murder of presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio that happened on Aug. 9, 2023. Carlos Angulo, alleged leader of Los Lobos gang, and Laura Castilla were sentenced to 34 years and eight months in prison for leading the hit. [...] The […]

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Ecuador's Fundamedios reports 'notable increase' in attacks on the press

"In June 2024, the exercise of freedom of expression and the press in Ecuador became more dangerous and violent, with a notable increase in attacks on media outlets. Fundamedios documented 21 attacks this month, an increase from May, raising the annual total to 119 attacks. This pattern reveals an escalation in violence and hostility towards […]

Daughter of Fernando Villavicencio, journalist and presidential candidate murdered in Ecuador, denounces threats from main suspect in case

"A daughter of Ecuadoran presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio, murdered last August, was threatened by the main suspect in ordering the assassination, her lawyer denounced on Wednesday (June 26) during the trial. The alleged perpetrator of the crime 'began issuing messages and comments against one of Fernando's daughters' through the Zoom chat during a hearing, Nathalia […]