Nicaragua officially withdrew from UNESCO following the organisation’s recognition of the exiled La Prensa newspaper with the prestigious World Press Freedom Award.
This announcement followed UNESCO’s recognition of La Prensa’s efforts to uphold press freedom amid government repression.
The award was presented to La Prensa on May 4, 2025, in recognition of its resilience in promoting free speech despite the challenges it faced under Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega’s regime.
The decision to leave UNESCO was confirmed by Nicaraguan authorities, who have long been at odds with La Prensa, accusing the newspaper of fostering U.S. military and political influence in the country. La Prensa’s staff, including General Manager Juan Lorenzo Holmann, were forced into exile after a police raid on the newspaper’s offices in 2021. Holmann was deported to the United States in 2023.
UNESCO’s Director-General, Audrey Azoulay, expressed regret over Nicaragua’s departure and said that the country’s withdrawal would deprive its citizens of the benefits of cooperation in areas such as education and culture.
She reaffirmed that UNESCO’s actions aligned with its global mandate to uphold freedom of expression.
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