ADDIS ABABA – The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has recognized Ethiopia’s achievement in adopting new media law as a tool to ensuring freedom of expression.
Whilst addressing World Press Freedom Day held here yesterday under the theme ‘Information as Public Good,’ UNESCO Representative to Ethiopia Yomiko Yocozeco (PhD) said that the organization acknowledges Ethiopian government’s adherence to keeping the rights of freedom of expression. “We should reaffirm our support for the ongoing reform efforts including revising access to information and computer crime reinstallation.”
It also initiated wide range reforms such as legal, media law and others. Two years ago, Ethiopia was chosen to host global conference on the media in Addis Ababa a partnership with African Union and UNESCO. The government of Ethiopia took a number of important measures that aimed at enhancing freedom of expression and media freedom in Ethiopia including releasing of journalists from prison and unblocking of website and social media.
As a result, in 2019 and 2020, Ethiopia showed significant progress in freedom of expression on the reporter without borders global press freedom index in improving 51 steps in just two years. This is amazing progress. Ethiopia also left up five red colors in the index map for the first time since 2013, she noted.
Media development partners, government, and national media stakeholders to do all possible in ensuring Ethiopia’s press index to improve. UNESCO would launch Ethiopia media development assessment using the UNESCO media development indicators that will provide analysis of media landscape in the country.
Misinformation and hate speech have brought tremendous challenges to Ethiopia amid ongoing transformation. Verified information as provided by the news media remains as essential as ever in the fight against misinformation and hate speech.
, Ethiopian Media Authority Director (EMA) Mohammed Indris on his part said that media have responsibility in accessing credible information for community for coming national election.
According to him,this year’s world press day would focus on ensuring and increasing capacity of the community about the credibility of information. The press/media at all should give due emphasis in fighting fake news and hate speech along the coming 6th national election.
BY TSEGAYE TILAHUN
The Ethiopian Herald May 5/2013
