In May, Ethiopia will host UNESCO's annual World Press Freedom Day: a reflection, UNESCO said, of the country's commitment to democratic and media reforms. Yared Hailemariam, the executive director of the Swiss-based Association for Human Rights in Ethiopia, told CPJ said that the media stand accused of "aggravating" tension. But even so, some, like Befekadu, said they feared the hate speech law could have a "chilling effect on freedom of expression." Abel told CPJ that publications have a hard time attracting advertisers, whom he said can be shy of being associated with critical publications. "They [have fulfilled] their obligation of respecting human rights, but the Abiy administration also has to protect people, to protect journalists, to protect human rights organizations from being attacked," Yared, from the Association for Human Rights in Ethiopia, told CPJ.

Source: Ethiopian News May 01, 2019 10:41 UTC