Sunday
22nd Dec 2024
Dhivehi Edition
President Solih taking a selfie with some journalists. Photo: President's office.
Male, Maldives - The Maldives has dropped 13 ranks in the World Press Freedom Index, now ranking at 100. This is the second consecutive year the Maldives has dropped in the index, categorized now as "problematic". Last year, the Maldives was ranked at 87, and this year it is ranked below some countries such as Haiti and the Central African Republic.
The Maldivian government's control over the media is a significant reason for the drop in ranking. The government finances media outlets, and as a result, the media is not free to report on government corruption. The Maldives Journal and its sister outlet Dhiyares News are the only mainstream media outlets that do not take funding from the government.
The World Press Freedom Index, compiled by Reporters Without Borders, ranks 180 countries based on their media freedom. This year's report highlights a significant decline in press freedom globally, with only 12% of countries having a "good" level of press freedom, and 73% categorized as problematic or worse.
The Maldives' drop in ranking is concerning, as it is a popular tourist destination and relies heavily on its reputation. Media freedom is a fundamental aspect of any democracy, and the Maldives needs to take immediate action to ensure it upholds press freedom values.
Journalists and media organizations are facing increasing threats, with a growing trend of journalists being attacked, imprisoned, or killed for their reporting. The COVID-19 pandemic has further worsened the situation, with many governments using the pandemic as an excuse to clamp down on media freedom.
Reporters Without Borders urges governments to take immediate action to protect media freedom and ensure that journalists can report freely and without fear of retaliation. The Maldives, in particular, needs to take steps to address its declining media freedom and uphold its democratic values.