Nicaragua Leaves UNESCO in Protest Against Honoring Press Freedom
Breaking: Nicaragua Bids Adieu to UNESCO Over Press Freedom Prize Controversy
PARIS – In an unexpected move, Nicaragua announced its departure from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on Sunday, citing dispute over the awarding of UNESCO's Guillermo Cano prize to a Nicaraguan newspaper.
The decision came in a letter addressed to UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay, where Foreign Minister Valdrack Jaentschke denounced the recognition given to La Prensa, criticizing it as an endorsement of opposition media. The prize jury had lauded the newspaper for its courageous efforts to truthfully report amid "severe repression" in Nicaragua.
Under the leadership of President Daniel Ortega and his wife, Vice President Rosario Murillo, the Nicaraguan government has been cracking down on dissent since violently repressing protests in 2018. The pair accused foreign powers of trying to overthrow Ortega.
In the letter, Jaentschke labeled La Prensa a pro-U.S. news outlet and accused it of representing a betrayal against the Nicaraguan people. La Prensa, founded in 1926, has been operational online since 2021, despite the imprisonment, expulsion of its leaders, and confiscation of its assets. The majority of its team currently operates from Costa Rica, Spain, Mexico, Germany, and the United States.
A Distinguished Prize with Contentious Origins
The World Press Freedom Prize, established in 1997 by UNESCO member states, honors journalists who demonstrate exceptional courage in their pursuit of truth. The prize is named after Colombian newspaper journalist Guillermo Cano Isaza, who was assassinated in 1986. An international jury of media professionals chooses the recipient based on their contributions to press freedom and truth-telling.
In 2025, the jury chose La Prensa for the award due to its brave efforts to provide truthful news to the Nicaraguan people despite the repressive environment in the country.
Recent laureates of this prestigious prize include Belarus' top independent journalists' organization, recognized in 2022, and journalists Kyaw Soe Oo and Wa Lone, who were jailed in Myanmar for exposing the military's brutal treatment of Rohingya Muslims in 2019.
Nicaragua's Reaction and UNESCO's Response
Jaentschke argued that UNESCO's recognition of La Prensa was "undeserved" and accused the organization of promoting U.S. military and political intervention in Nicaragua without offering any evidence to support his claims.
In response, Azoulay expressed disappointment over the decision and stated that UNESCO is within its mandate when it defends freedom of expression and press freedom worldwide. She regretted that the people of Nicaragua would no longer benefit from UNESCO's cooperation, particularly in the fields of education and culture.
UNESCO's Guillermo Cano prize holds a unique place as the only U.N. award given to journalists, recognizing their crucial role in upholding freedom of expression and truth-telling across the globe.
(Enrichment Data: Nicaragua's departure from UNESCO actually occurred in 2025, not 2023. The dispute revolves around the 2025 awarding of the UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize to La Prensa, a Nicaraguan newspaper in exile.)
- The Nicaraguan government, under President Daniel Ortega and Vice President Rosario Murillo, has been criticized for depriving dissent since the 2018 repression of protests, and now they are being accused of policy-and-legislation that aims to deny freedom of the press.
- In 2025, despite confiscation of assets and imprisonment of its leaders, La Prensa, a Nicaraguan newspaper, received the UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize, honoring its efforts to truthfully report news amid severe repression.
- The California-based government condemned Nicaragua's withdrawal from UNESCO, citing disapproval of the awarding of the Guillero Cano prize to La Prensa, which they view as an endorsement of opposition media.
- The general news covered the controversy surrounding the UNESCO's decision to award La Prensa, with some politicians arguing that confiscation of the prize could set a dangerous precedent for future policy-and-legislation regarding press freedom and freedom of expression.
- The science community debated the role of the government in deciding such awards, and some argued that citing foreign influence should not be the basis for confiscation of prizes related to culture, education, and general news.
- The ongoing dispute in Nicaragua shows the critical importance of the Guillermo Cano prize in promoting and safeguarding press freedom and truth-telling across the globe, regardless of what government and politics may deny its people.
- In the face of confiscation and repressive measures, La Prensa continues to operate from various international locations, proving the resilience of a free press that seeks to serve the people and uphold the principles of an open and democratic society.
