Saturday 18 / May / 2024
Muscat: The Sultanate of Oman has advanced 18 places in the annual World Press Freedom Index 2024 issued by Reporters Without Borders. With 42.52 points, Oman is ranked 137th globally in this year’s index, compared to last year's rank of 155th with 37.87 points.
In the global soft power index issued by the British Brand Finance for the year 2024, the Sultanate of Oman also recorded progress in the media index for the second year in a row, ranking 40th globally after advancing 6 places compared to 46th place in 2023.
The index assesses the state of press freedom in 180 countries and regions annually, and uses five metrics to evaluate press freedom, including the political context, legal framework, economic context, social and cultural context, and safety.
At the international level, the index indicated that this year is characterised by a clear absence of political will on the part of the international community to impose the principles of protecting journalists, especially United Nations Security Council Resolution No. 2222.
The war in Gaza has been marked by a record number of violations against journalists and media since October 2023, with more than 100 Palestinian journalists killed by the Israeli army, including at least 22 who were killed while working.
The annual World Press Freedom Index 2024 showed a decline in the ranking of the United States, one of the largest economic powers in the world, by ten places.
The index showed that the situation in the Middle East and North Africa region is “extremely dangerous,” especially in occupied Palestine, which is being bombed by the Israeli occupation army. The index showed Israel falling four places.
According to the index, conditions for practicing journalism in Eastern Europe are deteriorating due to the extent of misinformation and censorship of media outlets accused of undermining national security or terrorism.
The Kingdom of Norway topped the index at the global level, while the State of Eritrea came at the end of the ranking.
Reporters Without Borders was founded in 1985. It is a non-governmental organisation headquartered in the French capital, Paris. It has the status of a consultant to the United Nations, and celebrates World Press Freedom Day on May 3 every year.
