Maldives has made a big leap on the World Press Freedom Index published by the Reporters Without Borders (RSF) this year by moving from 120th in 2018 to 72nd.
President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has stated that he is very proud of the big leap that the Maldives has made on the World Press Freedom Index, underscoring the ongoing commitment by the current administration to a safe environment where journalists can operate independently without bias or favor.
Since the presidential election in September 2018, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih raised hopes with pledges on improving press freedom. Hence two months after the elections, parliament repealed the draconian 2016 law on defamation, which had been widely used by the previous government to harass independent media outlets. Under the law, a local television channel Raajje TV was unjustly fined MVR 2 Million for broadcasting content that defamed former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom.
Meanwhile, the RSF has stated that the local police still continue to use physical violence against journalists covering demonstrations but there has been some encouraging progress in the fight against impunity.
Founded by four journalists in 1985, Reporters Without Borders (Reporters sans frontières - RSF) is now one of the world’s leading NGOs in the defense and promotion of freedom of information. It aims to safeguard the right to freedom of information. It describes its advocacy as founded on the belief that everyone requires access to the news and information, in line with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights that recognizes the right to receive and share information regardless of frontiers.
President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has stated that he is very proud of the big leap that the Maldives has made on the World Press Freedom Index, underscoring the ongoing commitment by the current administration to a safe environment where journalists can operate independently without bias or favor.
Since the presidential election in September 2018, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih raised hopes with pledges on improving press freedom. Hence two months after the elections, parliament repealed the draconian 2016 law on defamation, which had been widely used by the previous government to harass independent media outlets. Under the law, a local television channel Raajje TV was unjustly fined MVR 2 Million for broadcasting content that defamed former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom.
Meanwhile, the RSF has stated that the local police still continue to use physical violence against journalists covering demonstrations but there has been some encouraging progress in the fight against impunity.
Founded by four journalists in 1985, Reporters Without Borders (Reporters sans frontières - RSF) is now one of the world’s leading NGOs in the defense and promotion of freedom of information. It aims to safeguard the right to freedom of information. It describes its advocacy as founded on the belief that everyone requires access to the news and information, in line with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights that recognizes the right to receive and share information regardless of frontiers.
