ARTICLE 19 is both fortunate and honoured to have our human rights work recognised by the prestigious Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation in the form of its annual award for human rights.
“We are thrilled to have our work recognised by the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation.” said Thomas Hughes, Executive Director of ARTICLE 19.
“For over thirty years ARTICLE 19 has campaigned for the right to free expression and access to information around the world. We consider these rights fundamental to the development of robust civil society and accountable governments. At a time when many of our freedoms are under threat, an award that highlights the issues and the work of countless individuals and partners around the world is extremely helpful and welcome.”
The award to be presented on Friday 20 July in Lisbon, is given to a non-profit organisation or to individuals which have distinguished themselves internationally in the defence and promotion of human rights on the issue of freedom of expression, information and press.
The Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation decided to make the award to ARTICLE 19 because of its approach to issues that underpin our right to freedom of expression and access to information.
By defending freedom of expression across strategic areas such as civic space, media, digital, protection and transparency, the jury of the highlighted the importance of ARTICLE 19’s “holistic approach” to the issues, that makes the organisation a “human rights leader and global specialist in freedom of expression”.
The jury took into account the “unique” and “frontline” work undertaken by ARTICLE 19 over the past 30 years, applauding our firm response to “the challenges and threats to freedom of expression and information that undermine human rights, democracy and the rule of law “.
The award will be accepted by influential media lawyer and ARTICLE 19 Trustee Jennifer Robinson, and presented by former President of Portugal, Jorge Sampaio.
The jury of the Calouste Gulbenkian Prize, is composed by Demetrios G. Papademetriou, Jody Williams, Leyvah Gbowee, José Ramos Horta and Emílio Rui Vilar
About ARTICLE 19
ARTICLE 19 is an international organisation that works through seven regional offices around the world. Our staff works for a world where all people everywhere can freely express themselves and actively engage in public life without fear of discrimination. We do this by working on two interlocking freedoms which set the foundation for all our work.
The Freedom to Speak concerns everyone’s right to express and disseminate opinions, ideas and information through any means, as well as to disagree from, and question power-holders.
The Freedom to Know concerns the right to demand and receive information by power-holders for transparency good governance and sustainable development.
When either of these freedoms comes under threat, either by the failure of power-holders to adequately protect them, ARTICLE 19 speaks with one voice, through courts of law, through global and regional organisations, and through civil society wherever we are present.
For more information:
Contact ARTICLE 19’s communications team on: +44 (0)20 7324 2575