IAPA Midyear Meeting. April 23 - 24, 2026.
The press freedom environment continues to deteriorate sharply, marked by legislative overreach, state-sponsored retaliation, and extreme levels of violence perpetrated by organized crime. Against a backdrop of chronic impunity, selective administrative pressure, and institutional fragility, the current period reflects a significant escalation in systemic threats to media independence and the right to freedom of expression.
The government has introduced restrictive amendments to public access to information laws, which effectively expand control over independent media. The most concerning example is the decree of December 18, 2025, which imposes disproportionate and unjustified fines designed to intimidate journalists and discourage investigative reporting. Article 6 establishes that any allegation affecting an individual’s honor or reputation may be interpreted as an attempt to conceal acts of corruption, creating a chilling effect on public interest journalism.
Journalists critical of the government have reported incidents of intimidation, including surveillance, vehicular pursuit by state agents, and anonymous threats.
In violation of international standards on freedom of expression, which prohibit the use of state advertising to reward or punish media based on editorial positions, the Haitian government has engaged in discriminatory practices against independent outlets. Radio Mega has been a primary target of such retaliation. Authorities have denied the station access to state advertising due to its editorial stance, exacerbating financial pressures.
Retaliatory measures have also included direct censorship: the station’s independent political program, “Boukante Lapawol,” was suspended for eight months, and the outlet itself faced credible threats of closure. Access to official government events has likewise been restricted, with invitations extended selectively based on editorial alignment.
The physical safety of journalists has reached a critical and alarming level. While previous periods were characterized by severe insecurity, including the need for armored transport, armed self-protection, or displacement, the current period has seen a return to extreme violence. On March 13, journalists Osnel Espérance, from Radio Uni FM, and Junior Célestin, from Radio Television Megastar, were intercepted in downtown Port-au-Prince near the Village de Dieu area, controlled by an armed gang led by an individual known as Izo. Accused of being police informants, both journalists were abducted and remain disappeared.
Impunity remains pervasive, with most crimes against journalists going unpunished. The expansion of gang control has effectively created “red zones” across the country, limiting access for journalists and contributing to the emergence of “news deserts” where independent reporting is no longer possible.
