RSF’s late Secretary-General Christophe Deloire honored with Gwen Ifill Press Freedom Award
At a gala dinner held by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) in New York City on 21 November, the late former Secretary-General of Reporters Without Borders (RSF) Christophe Deloire was honored posthumously with the prestigious Gwen Ifill Press Freedom Award in recognition of his life’s work to protect journalists and defend press freedom.
In presenting the award, UN Under-Secretary for Global Communications Melissa Fleming spoke of Deloire’s commitment and dedication to freedom of information and how his work with RSF and the Forum on Information and Democracy influenced the UN Global Compact. The award was accepted by Deloire’s widow, Perrine Daubas, who gave a moving speech noting Deloire’s tireless approach to leading RSF and that this award was also for the RSF team, who would continue to take his mission forward.
Daubas was accompanied by RSF’s Director of Campaigns Rebecca Vincent, who had worked closely with Deloire since joining RSF in 2016, and Executive Director of RSF USA Clayton Weimers.
“This award is an important recognition of Christophe Deloire’s tireless fight to protect journalists and defend press freedom – his life’s work, which impacted real change and inspired so many of us. It would have meant so much to Christophe to be honored in this way, and it serves as a source of encouragement for all of us at RSF to carry on. We are very moved by this show of solidarity and support from our colleagues at CPJ, and thank them for this kind and thoughtful recognition.
Deloire held the post of RSF’s Secretary-General from 2012 until his unexpected passing in June 2024 at the age of 53, following a battle with cancer. He transformed the organization during these 12 years and fought passionately to protect journalists and defend press freedom around the world. During his time at RSF he also founded the Forum on Information and Democracy and was appointed by French President Emmanuel Macron as a general delegate to the “Etats généraux de l'information” (EGI), an expert body established to research and develop recommendations on the state of information in France.
CPJ’s annual dinner was hosted this year by John Oliver, host of Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, and chaired by Jessica E. Lessin, founder and CEO of The Information. Deloire was honored alongside four other CPJ award-winners: Palestinian journalist Shrouq Al Aila; formerly detained Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) journalist Alsu Kurmasheva; Guatemalan journalist Quimy de León; and prominent investigative journalist from Niger Samira Sabou.
The Gwen Ifill Press Freedom Award was created in 2017 to honor the veteran journalist and former CPJ board member Gwen Ifill, who died in 2016. The award is presented annually to an individual who has shown extraordinary and sustained achievement in the cause of press freedom. Previous laureates include former President of the Knight Foundation Alberto Ibargüen; editor of exiled independent Russian news website Meduza Galina Timchenko; jailed founder and publisher of Hong Kong’s Apple Daily Jimmy Lai; international human rights lawyer Amal Clooney; editor of Pakistan’s leading daily Dawn, Zaffar Abbas; founder and CEO of Rappler in the Philippines Maria Ressa; and PBS broadcast journalist Judy Woodruff.
