SANTIAGO, Chile – The Palestinian journalists covering Gaza have been named as laureates of the 2024 UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize, following the recommendation of an international Jury of media professionals.
By Mae Azango, [email protected]
The Award Ceremony which took place on 2nd May in Santiago, Chile, brought together well-wishers including ministers and officials of Chile, UNESCO officials, UNESCO jury members who recommended the prize and many guest journalists from around the globe.
At the all colorful event, the audience went wild and filled with emotion when the Palestinian journalists covering Gaza were announced winner of the UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize, for their bravery in covering the war, which have left many journalists and citizens dead.
Accepting the Award on behalf of the Palestinian journalists, Mr. Naser Abubaker who held his hands up and spoke in Arabic with so much emotions, thanked the UNESCO for the award.
“The last Seven months have been difficult times for journalists covering Gaza, over hundred Palestinian journalists covering Gaza have died, while many who have lost family members are wounded in tents across Gaza,” said Abubaker, who spoke with so much emotions. “I stand here today in honor of all Palestinian journalists covering Gaza and those who have lost their lives. They want us to keep quiet, but we will let the World know that Gaza will remain strong.”
He thanked UNESCO for recognizing their work of reporting the truth and the sacrifices made by others who lost their lives.
“We thought the world did not care, when many people died in Gaza, but we now know that our cries have been heard, because UNESCO has exhibited their action through awarding all Palestinians journalists covering Gaza,” Abubaker added.
Mauricio WeibelChair of the UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize, consisting of International Jury of media professionals, said globally, journalists and media workers are facing a wide range of risks such as murder, kidnapping, enforced disappearance, arbitrary detention, digital harassment, hate speech and restrictions on access to information. And the persecution against journalists often continues in exile through digital espionage or smear campaigns on social networks. In the last few years, journalists and even their relatives have been killed in foreign countries.
“In this context, the Jury wishes to highlight that violence against journalists is always an attack on freedom of expression and democracy. Likewise, in these times of darkness and hopelessness, the Jury wishes to share a strong message of solidarity and recognition to Palestinian journalists who are covering Gaza in such dramatic circumstances. As humanity, we have a huge debt to their courage and commitment to freedom of expression. Therefore, we support all the initiatives that seek to strengthen freedom of expression,” said Jury head Weibel.
UNESCO Director-GeneralAudrey Azoulaysaid the ongoing conflict in Gaza is having grave consequences for journalists. Since 7 October 2023, UNESCO has condemned and deplored the deaths of 26 journalists and media workers in the line of work, based upon information from its international NGO partners. The Organization is reviewing dozens of other cases.
“Each year, the UNESCO/Guillermo Cano Prize pays tribute to the courage of journalists facing difficult and dangerous circumstances. Once again this year, the Prize reminds us of the importance of collective action to ensure that journalists around the world can continue to carry out their essential work to inform and investigate,” she said.
The UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize was created in 1997, and named in honor of Colombian journalist Guillermo Cano, who was assassinated in front of the offices of his newspaper El Espectador in Bogotá, Colombia, on 17 December 1986. It is funded by the Guillermo Cano Isaza Foundation (Colombia), the Helsingin Sanomat Foundation (Finland), the Namibia Media Trust, Democracy & Media Foundation Stitching Democratie & Media (The Netherlands), and the Thompson Reuters.