Ethiopia



Campaigns and Advocacy

24 November 2009

IPI fact-finding mission reports on state of press freedom

Despite positive developments, fears persist that government retains influence over media, reports IPI.
27 July 2009

Anti-terrorism legislation further restricts press

In a letter to Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, CPJ expressed serious concerns about increasing restrictions on press freedom in the wake of the pending adoption of anti-terror legislation.



From the Communiqué

25 November 2009

State interference in media content; shift in media law

Despite some positive changes in media law, Ethiopian journalists operating within state media have no editorial independence, says the International Press Institute (IPI) after a recent fact-finding mission to Ethiopia.
29 July 2009

IFEX members raise alarm over anti-terrorism law

Ethiopia's parliament has just approved sweeping anti-terrorism legislation that could see journalists jailed for carrying out their work, report the Ethiopian Free Press Journalists' Association (EFJA), the Committee to Protect Journalists and Human Rights Watch.
9 July 2008

NEW LAWS THREATEN FREE EXPRESSION

Ethiopia has passed a new media law that bans censorship of private media and the detention of journalists, but which critics say maintains other threats to free expression.
18 December 2007

TAKE ACTION! BRING ETHIOPIAN ACTIVISTS HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS

Daniel Bekele and Netsanet Demissie, human rights lawyers and coordinators of the Global Call to Action against Poverty (GCAP) in Ethiopia, have been in detention for more than two years for treason-related charges. If found guilty, they could face life in jail or the death sentence.
21 August 2007

FOUR JOURNALISTS PARDONED

Four jailed journalists were released on conditional pardon on Saturday along with 27 opposition activists, report the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and Reporters Without Borders (Reporters sans frontières, RSF).
24 July 2007

PROTESTERS PARDONED, BUT TWO JOURNALISTS STILL JAILED

Ethiopia has pardoned and freed 34 opposition members and four journalists who had been convicted last week for their links to deadly 2005 protests against alleged poll-rigging, say Reporters Without Borders (Reporters sans frontières, RSF) and news reports. But two Ethiopian journalists initially sentenced to life remain in jail.

Alerts

Supreme Court orders publishing houses to pay country's highest ever fine, say publishers 9 March 2010 Voice of America news broadcasts jammed 5 March 2010 Ethiopia jails editor whose paper challenged the prime minister 1 February 2010 Independent newspaper closes, its editors flee country fearing persecution 7 December 2009 High Court judge jails two editors on old charges under obsolete law 27 August 2009 IPI calls on governments of Ethiopia and Kenya to stop pressuring broadcaster 13 August 2009 Proposed counterterrorism bill violates free speech 6 July 2009 On World Press Freedom Day, journalists in exile call on international community to pressure government to lift ban on free press 4 May 2009 Parliament enacts new law on NGOs, Human Rights Watch concerned over restrictions on freedom of expression and association 9 January 2009 Editor convicted over misidentification of judge 4 November 2008 Leading newspaper editor beaten unconscious outside son's school 3 November 2008 Journalists detained, charged over misidentification 24 October 2008 Draft law on NGOs continues to threaten civil society and independent voices 17 October 2008 Two journalists released on bail but still face charges over published report 3 September 2008 Newspaper editor arrested over coverage of brewery's labour practices, two other journalists currently being sought over same issue; journalist released 26 August 2008 Government continues to deny three journalists publishing licenses 14 August 2008 Police threaten to block distribution of independent newspaper over opposition party coverage 6 August 2008 Editor of independent weekly jailed for publishing interview; other journalists questioned by police over reporting; impounded magazine released 5 August 2008 Pending press bill flawed, needs revision, says CPJ 15 July 2008 Repressive draft legislation on NGOs will limit freedom of expression, other human rights, warns Human Rights Watch 4 July 2008

Reports

Attacks on the Press in 2008: Ethiopia 12 March 2009 World Report 2009: Ethiopia 22 January 2009 Annual Report 2008: Ethiopia 9 April 2008 World Report 2008: Ethiopia 3 April 2008 Attacks on the Press in 2007: Ethiopia 27 March 2008 Freedom of the Press 2007: Ethiopia 27 February 2008
 
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