The Nicaraguan government announced its withdrawal from UNESCO after the organization awarded the 2025 UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize to the Nicaraguan newspaper La Prensa. The award ceremony took place in Brussels, Belgium, during the World Conference on Press Freedom.
Reason for Withdrawal:
- Nicaragua withdrew in protest against UNESCO awarding the Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize to La Prensa.
- This decision will deprive Nicaragua of cooperation benefits, particularly in education and culture.
About UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize
- Established: 1997
- Purpose: Honors individuals, organizations, or institutions for exceptional contributions to press freedom, especially under threat or danger.
- Significance: Only UN prize dedicated to journalists.
- Named after: Guillermo Cano Isaza, Colombian journalist assassinated in 1986.
- Funders: Guillermo Cano Isaza Foundation (Colombia), Namibia Media Trust, Stichting Democratie & Media (Netherlands), Thomson Reuters Foundation.
About La Prensa (Nicaraguan newspaper):
- Known for its independent reporting critical of President Daniel Ortega.
- Since 2021, operates in exile after police stormed its offices, arrested general manager Juan Lorenzo Holmann (later deported to the US in 2023).
- Nicaraguan authorities accused La Prensa of promoting “military and political interventions” by the US.
Impact on UNESCO:
- Nicaragua was one of UNESCO’s 194 member states.
- Withdrawal is a setback for UNESCO, which has faced political tensions before:
- In 2017, US President Donald Trump withdrew the US over alleged anti-Israel bias.
- US rejoined UNESCO in 2023 under President Joe Biden.
About UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization)
| Feature | Details |
| Founded | 1945 |
| Headquarters | Paris, France |
| Director-General | Audrey Azoulay |
| Member States | 194 |
| Staff | ~2,300 employees across 54 offices worldwide |
| Functions | Promotes peace, education, science, culture, communication, and information |
| Key Programs | Oversees over 2,000 World Heritage Sites, Biosphere Reserves, Global Geoparks; manages networks of Creative, Learning, Sustainable Cities; supports ~13,000 schools, university chairs, training institutions |
About Nicaragua
| Feature | Details |
| Location | Central America |
| Capital | Managua |
| President | Daniel Ortega |
| Currency | Nicaraguan Córdoba (NIO) |
| Language | Spanish |
| Major issues | Political repression, press restrictions, economic challenges |