Ecuador: Karol Noroña Flees Country After Death Threats - CFWIJ Demands Authorities Investigate
Location: Ecuador
Date: March 28, 2023
Death threats targeting GK media’s Karol Noroña after reporting on organized crime and prison crisis. Noroña forced to flee the country. The Coalition for Women In Journalism calls for a thorough investigation and the safe return of Karol Noroña to her country and work.
On March 24, 2023, Ecuadoran journalist Karol Noroña received threats against her life. GK — a digital newsroom covering human rights abuses in the country — confirmed the severity of the threats and organized her escape from the country.
Noroña covered organized crime for the publication. Her latest investigation looked into Ecuador’s prison crises. In the last four years, disputes between organized crime groups over routes and drug distribution zones resulted in brutal massacres in Ecuador's prisons, with over 400 people killed.
GK posted a statement confirming that the death threats resulted from her coverage of the prison crisis and organized crime.
“This is yet another example of the security crisis and the penetration of drug trafficking in the country that affects all sectors of society,” GK’s statement says. “It is also a testament to the incapabilities of the government to guarantee solutions against insecurity and allow a peaceful coexistence.”
Noroña announced she would leave social media a day before escaping the country. “So much death. And so much risk. Now it is not known who is who, sadly. But, sometimes, we leave to continue counting,” she says.
Fundamedios, a free press watchdog in Ecuador, revealed there were 356 attacks on journalists between January and December 2022, the highest number since 2018.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism is appalled that journalist Karol Noroña was forced to leave Ecuador after her life was threatened. The authorities' lack of response indicates how little they value democratic principles. This does not bode well for the development of the country. The Coalition For Women In Journalism demands a thorough investigation into the case and a safe and speedy return of Karol Noroña to her country and work. Without journalists, democracy is not possible.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help female career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.
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