Letter sent to Ms. Bokova to state our concerns about the UNESCO-Obiang Nguema Mbasogo International Prize for Research in the Life Sciences
Organisation:
Eleven organizations which participated in the consultative process for the UN Inter Agency Meeting on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity, hosted at UNESCO on September 13, 2011, sent a letter to Ms. Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO, on September 27, 2011. The goals and the important progress made during the meeting, could be undermined, if UNESCO were to proceed with the creation of the UNESCO-Obiang Nguema Mbasogo International Prize for Research in the Life Sciences, given the well-documented record of human rights abuse, repression of press freedom, and official corruption that have marked President Obiang's rule.
Here is the text of the letter we sent to Ms. Bokova :
September 27, 2011
Irina Bokova
UNESCO Director-General
UNESCO Headquarters
7, Place de Fontenoy
75352 Paris 07 SP
France
Dear Ms. Bokova, On September 13, representatives from our organizations attended the UN Inter-Agency Meeting on Safety of Journalists and Issue of Impunity, hosted by UNESCO in Paris. We appreciate that our non-governmental organizations were provided a platform to share views and information on these issues, as well as UNESCO’s work to create a comprehensive plan. As was expressed at the meeting, fundamental respect for human rights and freedom of expression is a keystone to progress in the fight against impunity and to end targeted violence against journalists. We believe, therefore, it is imperative we state our serious concerns that UNESCO is considering reinstating the UNESCO-Obiang Nguema Mbasogo International Prize for Research in the Life Sciences. Among the objectives set forth in UNESCO’s draft plan of action is to create “A free, safe and fair environment for journalists and media workers, who are protected in both conflict and non-conflict situations, with a view to strengthening peace, democracy and development worldwide.” This goal and the important progress made during our meeting, would be greatly undermined, should UNESCO’s executive board move forward with an award named for and funded by Equatorial Guinean President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, given the well-documented record of human rights abuse, repression of press freedom, and official corruption that have marked his rule. We understand that the matter is on the agenda for discussion at the current 187th session of the executive board. As eleven organizations dedicated to protecting freedom of expression we add our concern to the hundreds of global voices who spoke out last year to condemn this prize. We urge you to vigorously oppose this effort to reinstate the UNESCO-Obiang prize and to instead cancel it definitively. Sincerely, Arabic Network for Human Rights Information
Article 19
Committee to Protect Journalists
Inter American Press Association
International Freedom of Expression Exchange
International News Safety Institute
Media Foundation for West Africa
Media Legal Defense Initiative
Reporters sans Frontières
Southeast Asian Press Alliance
World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers Photo : Irina Bokova ( François Guillot /AFP)
UNESCO Director-General
UNESCO Headquarters
7, Place de Fontenoy
75352 Paris 07 SP
France
Dear Ms. Bokova, On September 13, representatives from our organizations attended the UN Inter-Agency Meeting on Safety of Journalists and Issue of Impunity, hosted by UNESCO in Paris. We appreciate that our non-governmental organizations were provided a platform to share views and information on these issues, as well as UNESCO’s work to create a comprehensive plan. As was expressed at the meeting, fundamental respect for human rights and freedom of expression is a keystone to progress in the fight against impunity and to end targeted violence against journalists. We believe, therefore, it is imperative we state our serious concerns that UNESCO is considering reinstating the UNESCO-Obiang Nguema Mbasogo International Prize for Research in the Life Sciences. Among the objectives set forth in UNESCO’s draft plan of action is to create “A free, safe and fair environment for journalists and media workers, who are protected in both conflict and non-conflict situations, with a view to strengthening peace, democracy and development worldwide.” This goal and the important progress made during our meeting, would be greatly undermined, should UNESCO’s executive board move forward with an award named for and funded by Equatorial Guinean President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, given the well-documented record of human rights abuse, repression of press freedom, and official corruption that have marked his rule. We understand that the matter is on the agenda for discussion at the current 187th session of the executive board. As eleven organizations dedicated to protecting freedom of expression we add our concern to the hundreds of global voices who spoke out last year to condemn this prize. We urge you to vigorously oppose this effort to reinstate the UNESCO-Obiang prize and to instead cancel it definitively. Sincerely, Arabic Network for Human Rights Information
Article 19
Committee to Protect Journalists
Inter American Press Association
International Freedom of Expression Exchange
International News Safety Institute
Media Foundation for West Africa
Media Legal Defense Initiative
Reporters sans Frontières
Southeast Asian Press Alliance
World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers Photo : Irina Bokova ( François Guillot /AFP)
Published on
Updated on
20.01.2016
