Fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and its former allies, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which broke out in April 2023, has created one of the world’s worst humanitarian emergencies and displacement crises.
Courage and dedication
Since then, the Sudanese Journalists Union has It documented 32 deaths of journalists, some 556 rapes against media workers and the closure of numerous newspapers and radio stations.“making Sudan one of the most dangerous countries to be a journalist,” UNESCO said.
Khaled El-Enany, Director-General of UNESCO, praised the members for their extraordinary courage and unwavering dedication.
“Despite immense challenges, they continue, day after day, to provide accurate, life-saving information to their communities when it matters most.“, said.
“Their commitment is a powerful example to us all and a vital service to truth, accountability and peace.”
Safeguard values, amplify voices
The announcement was made ahead of World Press Freedom Day, celebrated annually on May 3.
For Abdelmoniem Abuedries Ali, president of the collective, the award “is not only a recognition of the Sudanese Journalists Union, but a tribute to all Sudanese journalists who continue to defend the truth and freedom of the press in extremely difficult and dangerous conditions.”
He added that “it reaffirms The vital role of independent journalism in safeguarding democratic values and amplifying civilian voices. affected by the war.
Violence in ‘a zone of silence’
The conflict has severely disrupted news gathering and worsened the media landscape in Sudan, UNESCO said.
Journalists have been threatened with violence and arrest, 90 percent of media infrastructure has been destroyedand reporting has been hampered by internet and telecommunications outages.
“These conditions effectively turn the country into a ‘zone of silence’ in which large sectors of the population live in an information vacuum,” UNESCO said, as misinformation and propaganda spread widely, fueling hatred and polarization.
The UN agency has supported Sudanese journalists since the war began. His activities have included helping to establish the Sudanese Media Forum, comprising more than 20 media outlets, advocating for press freedom and maintaining international attention on Sudan’s humanitarian crisis.
Safe spaces and support
UNESCO also carried out a survey to identify the needs of journalists, which led to the creation of two safe spaces for them in the coastal city of Port Sudan. Some 49 journalists have so far received direct supportincluding help with relocation to safer areas within the country and abroad.
World Press Freedom Day, celebrated annually on May 3, is also an opportunity to assess the state of press freedom, which is declining everywhere, not just in Sudan.
Protecting freedom of the press protects democracy.
Press freedom in decline
A recent UNESCO report reveals a 10 percent decline in freedom of expression worldwide since 2012, a situation comparable only to three other periods: the First World War more than a century ago, the prelude to the Second World War, and the Cold War period of the late 1970s.
Globally, self-censorship among the press grew almost 70 percent between 2012 and 2025, stating that “the most harmful form of censorship is now internalized.”
Additionally, journalists and others working in the press have faced “various forms of legal harassment” including multimillion-dollar defamation lawsuits, anti-terrorism regulations and financial legislation.
Research by UN Women and others has also revealed an increase in online attacks against journalists, particularly women.
Despite these setbacks, UNESCO highlighted signs of hope, including the growing recognition of community media, while its 2025 global survey revealed that almost half of the 194 countries analyzed now have legal frameworks in place.
UNESCO will host the World Press Freedom Conference in the Zambian capital, Lusaka, next week, where the agency will call on governments and civil society to recommit to supporting independent journalism and the free flow of information.
About the award
The UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize is awarded annually to a person, organization or institution that has made an outstanding contribution to press freedom, and especially in the face of danger.
The award is named after Colombian journalist Guillermo Cano Isaza, who was murdered in front of his newspaper offices.The Spectatorin Bogotá, on December 17, 1986.
The award was created in 1997 and winners are selected by an independent international jury made up of media professionals.
Previous recipients include Palestinian journalists covering Gaza and Maria Ressa of the Philippines, joint winner of the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize with fellow journalist Dmitry Muratov of Russia.