August Marks One of Ecuador’s Deadliest Months for Journalists, Rights Group Reports

September 03, 2025 – Ecuador – 

The Foundation Journalists Unbound (FPSC) has sounded the alarm over a disturbing surge in attacks against media professionals in Ecuador during August 2025. The organization recorded 22 separate incidents targeting journalists and media outlets during that month, making it one of the most dangerous in the country’s recent history.

This alarming figure contributes to a broader pattern of escalating threats: from January through August, FPSC documented a total of 168 attacks on journalists, revealing a sustained, hostile environment toward press freedom.

These attacks range across a spectrum of abuses, including harassment, physical violence, intimidation, and potential infiltration of press communications. Such conditions reflect a deeply troubling trend, where journalists not only face threats from criminal elements but may also be undermined by covert state or non-state interference in press operations.

The spike in violence is occurring amid a broader erosion of safety across Ecuador. Organized crime groups—particularly drug trafficking organizations and gangs—have intensified their presence, sparking widespread instability and undermining democratic norms. Though not detailed specifically in FPSC’s August report, these broader dynamics have contributed significantly to creating a climate of fear and insecurity for journalists.

Given Ecuador’s multifaceted security crisis, ensuring press freedom has become a critical barometer of democratic resilience. The high number of attacks reported in just one month highlights the urgent need for concerted safeguards—legal, institutional, and societal—to protect journalists who continue to report under threat. Without swift and robust response measures, these attacks risk accelerating self-censorship, reducing transparency, and eroding public access to reliable information.

As Ecuador grapples with rising violence and weakening rule of law, the safety and independence of the press must be upheld—not only as a matter of individual security but as a cornerstone of democratic accountability and citizen rights.

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August one of the deadliest months for journalists in Ecuador, rights group says