Carta a Irina Bokova expresando nuestra preocupación respecto al Premio UNESCO-Obiang Nguema Mbasogo para la Investigación en Ciencias de la Vida
Organización:
Once organizaciones que participaron en el proceso consultivo de la reunión de inter-agencias de las Naciones Unidas sobre la seguridad de los periodistas y la cuestión de la impunidad, que se llevó a cabo el 13 de septiembre de 2011 en la sede de la UNESCO, enviaron una carta común a Irina Bokova, Directora General de este organismo. Este correo, que data del 27 de septiembre de 2011, expone las preocupaciones de estas organizaciones respecto a la creación del Premio Internacional UNESCO-Obiang Nguema Mbasogo para la Investigación en Ciencias de la Vida. Los objetivos establecidos y los progresos registrados durante el encuentro podrían verse muy afectados por la colaboración de la UNESCO con el régimen del presidente Obiang, marcado por numerosas violaciones a los derechos humanos, la ausencia de libertad de prensa y la corrupción.
Aquí la carta (en inglés):
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)
Publié le
Updated on
20.01.2016
