Participation Report: Stand Up for Journalist and Justice November 2, 2016, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
On November 2nd Free Press Unlimited hosted Free Press Live 2016 - stand up for journalists and justice. On this day it was the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists. I have the participated the event as a member of jury board. End Impunity Every week a journalist is killed for reporting the news and bringing information to the public. In the past ten years hundreds of journalists have been murdered, but in nine out of ten cases the killers go unpunished. This is not acceptable. We need to move from words to action. Read more about how to end impunity. “No journalist anywhere should have to risk their life to report the news. Together, let us stand up for journalists – and stand up for justice”, Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations. Journalists play a crucial role in society. They function as a watchdog and expose crimes and injustice. However, some countries and regions make it close to impossible for journalists to do their job. They prosecute, threaten or use violence to intimidate and silience them. This has a huge impact on press freedom, investigative journalism and access to reliable information. Speakers Javier Espinosa (journalist abducted by IS) Hans Jaap Melissen (Journalist of the Year in 2012) Brechtje van de Moosdijk (chief foreign editor at RTL News) Can Dündar (Turkish journalist, columnist and documentarian) Guy Berger (Director for Freedom of Expression and Media Development at UNESCO
Most Resilient Journalist Pakistani journalist Hamid Mir wins the Most Resilient Journalist Award. With this award we honor a journalist who has demonstrated extraordinary strength of character, courage and perseverance in reporting the news. During his journalistic career he interviewed Osama Bin Laden, Nelson Mandela, Tony Blair, Hillary Clinton and Yasser Arafat. Due to his outspoken reporting on local terrorist networks and political parties, he experienced a number of arrests, physical attacks, kidnappings and survived two murder attempts. Despite these attacks, Hamid continues to practice journalism in Pakistan, spending his life in hiding. He refuses to leave the country, because it would discourage many young journalists. Other nominees for this award were Claudia Duque from Colombia and Mohamed Al-Qadhi from Yemen. Newcomer of the Year Nigerian journalist 'Fisayo Soyombo wins the Newcomer of the Year - Hans Verploeg Award. This award is a recognition for a new and talented journalist. 'Fisayo Soyombo was praised for his brave undercover jounalism and innovative approach in a country where corruption is the rule rather than the exception. The other nominees were Mehman Huseynov from Azerbaijan and Tafadzwa Ufumeli from Zimbabwe.
Best Report Klaas van Dijken wins the Best Report Award with "Darfur, oorlog zonder einde", Trouw, 11 april 2015, “En de stad Golo krijste”, Trouw, 7 mei 2015 (Darfur). This is the award for the best foreign documentary that was made with support from the Dutch Postcode Lottery Fund for journalists that enables them to make reports on people and the environment in developing countries and conflict areas. Klaas van Dijken is a freelance journalist, videographer and one of the founders of Butch & Sundance Media. Other nominees were Minka Nijhuis and Lennart Hofman. About the Free Press Awards With the Free Press Awards, we want to honour journalists who risk everything to bring us the news. Media pioneers who pave the way for equality and justice and those who persevere under the most difficult circumstances. Journalists who have a strong commitment with press freedom and independent information I would like to thank the BNNRC Board of Trust that allowed me to join the meeting. and share knowledge about community cooperative internet for rural Bangladesh. Finally I would like to thank the Free Press Unlimited for including me as a member of Jury Board.
