The state of civic space in Nauru is rated as ‘obstructed’. Concerns documented in recent years include restrictions on media freedom due to prohibitively high visa fees for foreign journalists to visit the country. Very few journalists have been able to access the country to report on human rights issues such as the treatment of asylum seekers and refugees. Further, Nauru has not yet ratified the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) or established a national human rights institution.
In October 2025, David Adeang, 55, was re-elected unopposed as Nauru’s President at the inaugural sitting of the 25th Parliament following parliamentary elections.
In November 2025, the first of potentially hundreds of individuals deemed non-citizens by Australia were moved to Nauru as part of the latest multimillion dollar resettlement arrangement between the nations. The details of the deal, which Australian media have reported will cost $2.5 billion in payments to Nauru over 30 years, remain secret. Concerns have long been raised about the treatment of asylum seekers from Australia on the island.
Nauru’s human rights record was reviewed by the UN Human Rights Council on 20th January 2026. During the review, recommendations were made by states for the government to ratify the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. There were also recommendations to establish a national human rights institution, in accordance with the Paris Principles.
Expression
Lack of independent media
Ahead of the review, the UN country team reported that the government owned all media and exercised editorial control over content. All journalists in Nauru were employees of the Nauru Media Bureau. They were classified as public servants and took an oath of allegiance to the government.
During the review, UN member states made recommendations for concrete measures to promote press freedom, including facilitating the entry of foreign journalists. There were also calls to review prohibitively high foreign journalist visa fees to enable foreign journalists to visit the country, and take the necessary measures to allow access into the country to foreign journalists, human rights defenders and non-governmental organisations. There were also calls to establish an independent broadcasting regulator to monitor and guarantee the transparency and independence of media outlets and allow the emergence of private media.
No legislation on freedom of information
UNESCO reported in October 2025 that there was no legislation ensuring freedom of information in Nauru. It encouraged Nauru to introduce legislation on access to information that was in accordance with international standards, to establish an independent broadcasting regulator and to assess the system of monitoring the media sector in order to ensure that the process was transparent and independent. There were recommendations by the UN Human Rights Council to take concrete measures, particularly by adopting legislation ensuring freedom and access to information.
Defamation a criminal offence
UNESCO underlined that defamation was a criminal offence, with penalties of up to three years’ imprisonment under the Crimes Act, which had been adopted in 2016. The Administration of Justice Act, adopted in 2018, regulated crimes for contempt of court. That Act regulated publications that were critical of the government and the judiciary.