Haiti Down 6 In Press Freedom Ranking

Haiti - Politic : Haiti down 6 in Press Freedom ranking
15/02/2015 08:25:54

In its world ranking published Thursday, February 12, Reporters Without Borders (RWB) ranked Haiti 53rd out of 180 countries, with an overall score of 25,08 representing a loss of six places compared to 2014 (47th), who was the best ranking since 2002, while the year 2015 is the first decline since 2004 with a loss of 1.55 in the overall score compared to the previous year.

The "abuses score" is of 30,45. The "abuses score" reflects the intensity of the violence and harassment to which journalists and other news and information providers were subjected during the year. No score means that Reporters Without Borders did not register any or any or a significant number of cases.

"The Haitian media tend to be polarized between government supporters and critics, with the latter often experiencing difficulty in getting access to government-held information. The government often demonstrated a disturbing hostility towards its critics, and a desire to gag independent media. On 8 April 2014, the National Telecommunications Council (CONATEL) threatened to sanction certain radio stations that systematically broadcast false information liable to disturb pubic order, destabilize the Republic’s institutions and attack the integrity of many citizens http://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-10949-haiti-politic-risk-of-censorship-of-journalists-in-haiti.html Such an intimidatory climate clearly encourages self-censorship and thereby undermines freedom of information. Journalists were exposed to other forms of intimidation, including by police during protests. Haitian law still provides for prison sentences for defamation. Investigations into murders of journalists are unacceptably slow and subject to repeated obstruction, resulting in a disturbing level of impunity," RWB wrote in its report.

The Dominican Republic is ranked 63rd out of 180, an increase of 5 places compared to 2014. Globally, the highest ranked country is Finland and the lowest score is Eritrea (Africa).