2 November 2011

UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize 2012 seeks nominations

Do you know an individual, organisation or institution that is defending press freedom? If so, send in your nomination for the UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize 2012 by 15 February 2012.

Named after Guillermo Cano Isaza, a Colombian journalist who was assassinated in 1986 after calling for drug traffickers to be brought to justice, the award especially recognises those who defend press freedom at great personal risk.

The winner will receive US $25,000 at a ceremony on World Press Freedom Day on 3 May 2012. 

Source IFEX

2 November 2011

23 unsolved murders in 23 days: Join the International Day to End Impunity campaign

Mohammad Ismail, the first of 23 cases being highlighted in the lead up to the International Day to End Impunity
Mohammad Ismail was in his last days before retirement as the head of a leading Pakistani press organisation when he left his home to go for an evening walk on 31 October 2006. He was found the next morning near his home, with his skull smashed in. Five years on, his killers have not been found.

Starting on 1 November and for 23 days, IFEX is bringing you "23 in 23": a story each day of a journalist, writer, artist or free expression advocate - like Ismail - who was killed on that day for reporting the truth, and whose murderers have gone free.

Go to daytoendimpunity.org to take action on each case and join our global call for justice.

It's just one way you can take part in the inaugural International Day to End Impunity on 23 November. The day marks the anniversary of the Ampatuan massacre in the Philippines in 2009, which was the single deadliest incident for journalists in recent history.

"We were able to find a case of impunity for every day between 1 and 23 November. Sadly, this is a tale that can be told practically every day of the year," said Annie Game, IFEX executive director. Some days marked the anniversary of more than one person murdered.

According to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), in the past 10 years, more than 500 journalists alone have been killed. Nine times out of 10, the murderers have gone free.

Check out day 2: José Bladimir Antuna García, 39, of Mexico. A crime reporter ambushed by five men. Attached to his body was a note reading, "This happened to me for giving too much information to the military and for writing too much." Demand justice in his case by sending an email to Mexican President Felipe Calderón here. You can write to him in English, French, Spanish, Russian or Arabic.





Source : IFEX