FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AWARDS 2016

Index on Censorship’s Freedom of Expression Awards exist to celebrate individuals or groups who have had a significant impact fighting censorship anywhere in the world.

 

  • Awards were offered in four categories: Arts, Campaigning, Digital Activism and Journalism
  • Anyone who has had a demonstrable impact in tackling censorship is eligible
  • Winners were honoured at a gala celebration in London at the Unicorn Theatre
  • Winners joined Index’s Awards Fellowship programme and received dedicated training and support

Arts

for artists and arts producers whose work challenges repression and injustice and celebrates artistic free expression

Campaigning

for activists and campaigners who have had a marked impact in fighting censorship and promoting freedom of expression

Digital Activism

for innovative uses of technology to circumvent censorship and enable free and independent exchange of information

Journalism

for courageous, high-impact and determined journalism that exposes censorship and threats to free expression

The Index Awards Fellowship

In recognising individuals and organisations, often working in dangerous and difficult conditions, Index makes a commitment to them. Through a year-long fellowship we work with our awards winners – both during an intensive week in London, and the rest of the awarding year – to provide longer term, structured assistance to enhance the work they are already doing.

FELLOWS

Through the Index Awards Fellowship we work with our winners – both during an intensive week in London and the rest of the awarding year – to provide longer term, structured support.

The goal is to help winners maximise their impact, broaden their support and ensure they can continue to excel at fighting free expression threats on the ground.

Arts 2016
Murad Subay
Campaigning 2016
Bolo Bhi
Digital Activism 2016
GreatFire
Journalism 2016
Zaina Erhaim
Music in Exile 2016
Serge Martin Bambara aka Smockey

JUDGING

Criteria – Anyone involved in tackling free expression threats – either through journalism, campaigning, the arts or using digital techniques – is eligible for nomination.

Any individual, group or NGO can nominate or self-nominate. There is no cost to apply.

Judges look for courage, creativity and resilience. We shortlist on the basis of those who are deemed to be making the greatest impact in tackling censorship in their chosen area, with a particular focus on topics that are little covered or tackled by others.

Nominees must have had a recognisable impact in the past 12 months.

Where a judge comes from a nominee’s country, or where there is any other potential conflict of interest, the judge will abstain from voting in that category.

Panel – Each year Index recruits an independent panel of judges – leading world voices with diverse expertise across campaigning, journalism, the arts and human rights.

The judges for 2016, chaired by Index on Censorship’s CEO Jodie Ginsberg are:

Wole Soyinka
Playwright, poet, novelist and essayist
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Maria Teresa Ronderos
Journalist and programme director OSF
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Nabeel Rajab
Human rights campaginer
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Kirsty Brimelow QC
Public and criminal international, constitutional and human rights law
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James Rhodes
Pianist
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Bindi Karia
Tech entrepreneur
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GALLERY

2016 SHORTLIST

Drawn from more than 400 nominations, the Index awards shortlist celebrates 20 artists, writers, journalists and campaigners tackling censorship and fighting for freedom of expression against incredible obstacles.

ARTS

for artists and arts producers whose work challenges repression and injustice and celebrates artistic free expression

Belarus Free Theatre
Belarus
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#YoTambienExijo and Tania Bruguera
Cuba
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Good Chance Theatre
Calais
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Sakdiyah Ma’ruf
Indonesia
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Winner: Murad Subay
Yemen
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CAMPAIGNING

For activists and campaigners who have had a marked impact in fighting censorship and promoting freedom of expression.

Abduljalil Al-Singace
Bahrain
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Vanessa Berhe
Eritrea
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Winner: Bolo Bhi
Pakistan
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Nkosilathi Emmanuel Moyo
Zimbabwe
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Pu Zhiqiang
China
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DIGITAL ACTIVISM

For innovative uses of technology to circumvent censorship and enable free and independent exchange of information.

Dokuz8 Haber and Gökhan Biçici
Turkey
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Winner: GreatFire
China
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Love Matters
International
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Méxicoleaks
Mexico
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Hebib Muntezir
Azerbaijan
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JOURNALISM

For courageous, high-impact and determined journalism that exposes censorship and threats to free expression.

Winner: Zaina Erhaim
Syria
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Mada Masr
Egypt
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Hamid Mir
Pakistan
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Pravit Rojanaphruk
Thailand
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Ferit Tunç
Turkey
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