Marsadak and 30 Media and Human Rights Organizations Issue Joint Statement on World Press Freedom Day

34 media and human rights organizations assert that protecting press freedom in Yemen is a fundamental and indispensable gateway to building a just and sustainable peace. The organizations emphasize that continued violations against journalists and media institutions undermine opportunities for stability and obstruct any genuine path toward peace, especially within a work environment that lacks both safety and independence.

The undersigned organizations express grave concern over the continuous deterioration of press freedom resulting from armed conflict, the proliferation of power centers, and the absence of the rule of law. These factors have led to an escalation of violations, including killings, arbitrary detentions, enforced disappearances, unfair trials, and restrictions on movement and access to information.

The organizations further warn against the persistence of impunity, which encourages the recurrence of violations and entrenches a climate of fear and self-censorship. This environment stifles the public’s right to information and weakens the media’s vital role in ensuring accountability and exposing abuses.

Moreover, media institutions and female journalists face multifaceted challenges, including political and economic pressures, editorial interference, and gender-based targeting. This is compounded by an increase in digital rights violations, such as website blocking and content surveillance.

The organizations call upon all parties to:

Cease all violations and ensure the safety of journalists.

Lift all restrictions on media work and hold perpetrators accountable.

Provide specific protection for female journalists.

Guarantee the freedom of access to information to foster a free media environment capable of contributing to sustainable peace.

Full Statement Here