Journalists and Press Freedom

Regional Situation

Journalists dedicated to providing public scrutiny of, and accountability for, human rights abuses and violations are increasingly targeted in the East and Horn of Africa. As civic space continues to shrink throughout the sub-region, media houses are faced with a range of restrictions that directly affect their ability and capacity to share information. Restrictive legislation, forced media house shut downs, and physical and judicial harassment have all been used to limit the media’s ability to shine light on human rights violations and abuses committed by both State and non-State actors.