16 Sep 2021 | Awards, Fellowship, Fellowship 2021
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_video link=”https://youtu.be/2s9v3ko0Z_E”][vc_column_text]Samira Sabou is a Nigerien journalist, blogger and president of the Niger Bloggers for Active Citizenship Association (ABCA).
In June 2020, Sabou was arrested and charged with defamation under the 2019 cybercrime law in connection with a Facebook post highlighting corruption, specifically the possible overbilling by the defence ministry. She spent over a month in detention before eventually being discharged and released.
This year, through her work with ABCA, she is conducting training sessions on disseminating information on social media based on journalistic ethics. The aim of this training, she says, is to give bloggers the means to avoid jail time. The need for this training is a consequence of the cybercrime law, enacted in 2019, which severely restricts freedom of expression in the country.
Sabou is also active in promoting girls’ and women’s right to freedom of expression and has championed women’s leadership through her work. This year, through ABCA, she is also fighting against child marriage, which remains a serious and widespread issue in Niger.
On 27 May 2021, about 20 police officers arrived at her home and attempted to arrest Sabou without a warrant. She was interrogated, without the presence of her lawyer and released later the same day. On 9 September 2021, Samira Sabou appeared before the Tribunal de Grande Instance Hors Classe de Niamey facing charges of “defamation” and “diffusing information to disrupt public order” as defined by the cyber crime law of 2019 in reference to an article on her Facebook page. The article was published by the Global Initiative regarding the Office Central de Répression du Trafic Illicite des Stupéfiants (OCRTIS) alleged reselling of drugs it had seized from illegal trafficking. Samira Sabou was charged alongside journalist Moussa Aksar, who also shared the same article.
Although the government of Niger continues to exert pressure on Sabou, she remains an outspoken supporter of freedom of expression, and especially media freedom, in Niger. Her aim is to open her own news agency and recruit young people who want to be innovative in the field of information. [/vc_column_text][vc_video link=”https://youtu.be/n84ihJkw8R4″][/vc_column][/vc_row]
15 Sep 2021 | Awards, Egypt, Fellowship 2021, Kyrgyzstan, News and features, Niger, United Kingdom
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_images_carousel images=”117457,117451,117452,117454,117456,117458,117459,117460,117461,117462,117468,117469,117470,117471,117472,117463″ img_size=”full” speed=”3500″ autoplay=”yes”][vc_column_text]The winners of Index on Censorship’s 2021 Freedom of Expression awards have been announced at a ceremony in London hosted by actor, writer and activist Tracy-Ann Oberman.
The Freedom of Expression Awards, which were first held in 2000, celebrate individuals or groups who have had a significant impact fighting censorship anywhere in the world. Winners join Index’s Awards Fellowship programme and receive dedicated training and support. This year’s awards are particularly significant, coming as the organisation celebrates its 50th birthday.
Winners were announced in three categories – art, campaigning and journalism – and a fourth Trustees Award was also presented.
- The 2021 Trustees Award was presented to Arif Ahmed.
Arif Ahmed is a free speech activist and fellow at Gonville & Caius College at the University of Cambridge. In March 2020, Ahmed proposed alterations to the Statement of Free Speech at Cambridge. The proposed amendments were created to make the legislation “clearer and more liberal.” He aimed to protect university campuses as places of innovation and invention. That requires protecting the right to freely and safely challenge received wisdom.
- The 2021 Freedom of Expression Award for Journalism was presented to Samira Sabou.
Samira Sabou is a Nigerien journalist, blogger and president of the Niger Bloggers for Active Citizenship Association (ABCA). In June 2020, Sabou was arrested and charged with defamation under the restrictive 2019 cybercrime law in connection with a comment on her Facebook post highlighting corruption. She spent over a month in detention. Through her work with ABCA, she conducts training sessions on disseminating information on social media based on journalistic ethics. The aim is to give bloggers the means to avoid jail time. Sabou is also active in promoting girls’ and women’s right to freedom of expression, and wants to open her own news agency recruiting young people who want to be innovative in the field of information.
- The 2021 Freedom of Expression Award for Art was presented to Tatyana Zelenskaya
Tatyana Zelenskaya is an illustrator from Kyrgyzstan, working on freedom of expression and women’s rights projects. Zelenskaya has found inspiration for her work in the waves of anti-government protests that have recently erupted across Russia and Kyrgyzstan. In 2020, she created the artwork for a narrative video game called Swallows: Spring in Bishkek, which features a woman who helps her friend that was abducted and forced into an unwanted marriage. The game was downloaded more than 70,000 times in its first month. Its purpose is to break the silence around the issue of bride-kidnapping in Kyrgyzstan, with the aim of preventing them altogether.
- The 2021 Freedom of Expression Award for Campaigning was presented to Abdelrahman Tarek
Abdelrahman “Moka” Tarek is a human rights defender from Egypt, who focuses on defending the right to freedom of expression and the rights of prisoners. Tarek has experienced frequent harassment from Egyptian authorities as a result of his work. He has spent longer periods of time in prison and has experienced torture, solitary confinement, and sexual abuse. Authorities have severely restricted his ability to communicate with his lawyer and family. Tarek was arrested again in September 2020 and in December 2020, a new case was brought against him on terrorism-related charges. Tarek began a hunger strike in protest of the terrorism charges. In January 2021, he was transferred to the prison hospital due to a deterioration in his health caused by the hunger strike.
Index on Censorship chief executive Ruth Smeeth said: “As Index marks its 50th birthday it’s clear that the battle to guarantee free expression and free expression around the globe has never been more relevant. Inspired by the tremendous courage of our award winners, we will continue in our mission to defend free speech and free expression around the globe, give voice to the persecuted, and stand against repression wherever we find it”.
Trevor Philips, chair of the Index on Censorship board of trustees said: “Across the globe, the past year has demonstrated the power of free expression. For many the only defence is the word or image that tells the story of their repression; and for the oppressors the sound they fear most is diversity of thought and opinion. Index exists to ensure that in that battle, freedom wins – both abroad, and as this year’s Trustee award demonstrates here at home too.”[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
8 Sep 2021
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The Nominees
The 2021 Freedom of Expression Awards will take place on 12 September 2021.
There are three nominees in each category, where each inspiring individual will be judged on their outstanding contributions in the areas of the arts, campaigning and journalism.
The full list of the nominees is below.
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Arts
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator color=”black” border_width=”3″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_custom_heading text=”Daria Apakhonchich”][vc_custom_heading text=”Artist and activist” font_container=”tag:h4|text_align:left”][vc_custom_heading text=”Daria Apakhonchich is a Russian performance artist and feminist activist. Daria creates artistic performances to protest violence against women and support women’s rights in Russia. She contributed to the ‘Vulva Ballet’ in 2020. The piece was produced in defence of Yulia Tsvetkova, an LGBTQ artist activist and herself a former Index Awards winner, who faces up to six years in prison for her body positive feminist drawings.
In December 2020, Daria learned from media reports that she was the first artist to be labelled a “Foreign Agent” by Russian authorities. She was arrested and fined in January 2021. She also lost her teaching job with the Red Cross due to her activism and feminist engagement.” font_container=”tag:h3|text_align:left” google_fonts=”font_family:Alegreya%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic%2C900%2C900italic|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”117390″ img_size=”full” onclick=”custom_link” link=”https://www.indexoncensorship.org/campaigns/letters-from-lukashenkas-prisoners/maxim-znak/”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space height=”0px”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_custom_heading text=”Émerson Maranhão”][vc_custom_heading text=”Film director” font_container=”tag:h4|text_align:left”][vc_custom_heading text=”Émerson Maranhão is a Brazilian film director who focuses on LGBTQ+ visibility. Émerson’s last movie, Those Two, follows the lives of two transgender men and their journey towards self-acceptance. In 2019, the Brazilian government halted state funding for films representing LGBTQ themes. A judge later determined that this decision was discriminatory and ordered that funding be reinstated, a victory in a time of rising censorship of LGBTQ+ artistic expression in Bolsonaro’s Brazil.” font_container=”tag:h3|text_align:left” google_fonts=”font_family:Alegreya%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic%2C900%2C900italic|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”117394″ img_size=”full” onclick=”custom_link” link=”https://www.indexoncensorship.org/campaigns/letters-from-lukashenkas-prisoners/volha-takarchuk/”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_custom_heading text=”Tatyana Zelenskaya”][vc_custom_heading text=”Artist” font_container=”tag:h4|text_align:left”][vc_custom_heading text=”Tatyana Zelenskaya is an illustrator from Kyrgyzstan, her works focus on freedom of expression and women’s rights. Tatyana highlights social issues, including domestic violence and women’s rights. More recently, her work has been inspired by the growing anti-government protests which have erupted across Russia and Kyrgyzstan.
In 2020, she created the artwork for the video game Swallows: Spring in Bishkek which raises awareness about bride-kidnapping. The interactive game provides useful information on bride-kidnapping with the aim of challenging traditional perceptions of the practice.” font_container=”tag:h3|text_align:left” google_fonts=”font_family:Alegreya%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic%2C900%2C900italic|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”117407″ img_size=”full” onclick=”custom_link” link=”https://www.indexoncensorship.org/campaigns/letters-from-lukashenkas-prisoners/maria-kalesnikava/”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
Campaigning
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator color=”black” border_width=”3″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_custom_heading text=”Nandar”][vc_custom_heading text=”Activist” font_container=”tag:h4|text_align:left”][vc_custom_heading text=”Nandar is a feminist activist, translator and storyteller from Myanmar. Nandar grew up in a village in the north-eastern Shan state of Myanmar. She experienced first-hand the hardships that many women face when living in a society with traditional gender roles. Nandar created a podcast to tackle taboo topics in the country such as menstruation and abortion.
She also founded the Purple Feminists Group to promote feminist literature, challenge mainstream taboos, amplify women and girls’ voices, and raise awareness of gender-based violence.” font_container=”tag:h3|text_align:left” google_fonts=”font_family:Alegreya%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic%2C900%2C900italic|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”117408″ img_size=”full” onclick=”custom_link” link=”https://www.indexoncensorship.org/campaigns/letters-from-lukashenkas-prisoners/maria-kalesnikava/”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_custom_heading text=”Anouar Rahmani”][vc_custom_heading text=”Writer” font_container=”tag:h4|text_align:left”][vc_custom_heading text=”Anouar Rahmani is an Algerian writer and human rights defender. Through his writings, Anouar explores human rights issues in Algeria, including those of LGBTQ+ people and those of religious minorities. He is the author of two novels, The City of White Shadow and Jibril’s Hallucination. He has faced significant threats and online harassment for his writings. Rahmani has also been harassed by Algerian authorities due to his work. In 2017, he was arrested for blasphemy and in 2020, he was forced to pay a 50,000 Dinar fine for “insulting state officials”.” font_container=”tag:h3|text_align:left” google_fonts=”font_family:Alegreya%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic%2C900%2C900italic|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”117410″ img_size=”full” onclick=”custom_link” link=”https://www.indexoncensorship.org/campaigns/letters-from-lukashenkas-prisoners/maria-kalesnikava/”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_custom_heading text=”Abdelrahman “Moka” Tarek”][vc_custom_heading text=”Activist” font_container=”tag:h4|text_align:left”][vc_custom_heading text=”Abdelrahman “Moka” Tarek is an Egyptian human rights defender and Member of the 6 April Movement. He took part in the 25 January Egyptian Revolution. In 2013 he was arrested at the Shura Council Protest along with 24 other peaceful protesters. He was convicted to 3 years in prison as well as a 3-year suspended sentence.
In September 2019, Abdelrahman was assaulted by a police officer as he was serving his suspended sentence at Qsar Al-Nil Police station. He disappeared soon after sharing this aggression on social media. Since then, new terrorism-related charges have been pressed against him and he was sent back to Tora prison.” font_container=”tag:h3|text_align:left” google_fonts=”font_family:Alegreya%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic%2C900%2C900italic|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”117409″ img_size=”full” onclick=”custom_link” link=”https://www.indexoncensorship.org/campaigns/letters-from-lukashenkas-prisoners/maria-kalesnikava/”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
Journalism
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator color=”black” border_width=”3″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_custom_heading text=”Kadar Abdi Ibrahim”][vc_custom_heading text=”Activist and journalist” font_container=”tag:h4|text_align:left”][vc_custom_heading text=”Kadar Abdi Ibrahim is a human rights activist and journalist from Djibouti. Kadar Abdi Ibrahim was the co-director and chief editor of L’Aurore, Djibouti’s only privately-owned media outlet. In 2016, the newspaper was banned following the publication of a story about the massacre of 29 people, understood to have been perpetrated by state forces. In April 2018, just days after returning from Geneva, intelligence service agents raided his house and confiscated his passport. He has been unable to leave the country since then.” font_container=”tag:h3|text_align:left” google_fonts=”font_family:Alegreya%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic%2C900%2C900italic|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”117413″ img_size=”full” onclick=”custom_link” link=”https://www.indexoncensorship.org/campaigns/letters-from-lukashenkas-prisoners/maria-kalesnikava/”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_custom_heading text=”Verónica Chávez”][vc_custom_heading text=”Journalist” font_container=”tag:h4|text_align:left”][vc_custom_heading text=”Verónica Chávez is the co-owner of 100% Noticias, an online Nicaraguan media outlet dedicated to providing critical journalism. Despite President Daniel Ortega’s strict crackdown on media in Nicaragua, 100% Noticias has continued to provide critical journalism. In 2018, police raided the offices of 100% Noticias, confiscated the station’s equipment and arrested Chávez, her husband journalist Miguel Mora and news director Lucia Pineda. Chávez was subsequently released, but Mora and Pineda were charged and imprisoned for a year. Chávez continued to run 100% Noticias during that time.
Ortega’s intimidation recently intensified and in October 2020, Chávez was assaulted by members of paramilitary groups close to the government which left her in intensive care. The international community has condemned the attack.” font_container=”tag:h3|text_align:left” google_fonts=”font_family:Alegreya%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic%2C900%2C900italic|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”117412″ img_size=”full” onclick=”custom_link” link=”https://www.indexoncensorship.org/campaigns/letters-from-lukashenkas-prisoners/maria-kalesnikava/”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_custom_heading text=”Samira Sabou”][vc_custom_heading text=”Journalist and blogger” font_container=”tag:h4|text_align:left”][vc_custom_heading text=”Samira Sabou is a Nigerien journalist, blogger and president of the Niger Bloggers for Active Citizenship Association (ABCA). In June 2020, Sabou was arrested and charged with defamation under the 2019 cybercrime law in connection with a Facebook post highlighting corruption. She spent over a month in detention before eventually being released.
Through her work with ABCA, she conducts training sessions on disseminating information on social media based on journalistic ethics. She teaches journalists and bloggers how to continue to publish despite a cybercrime law, enacted in 2019, which severely restricts freedom of expression in the country.
Sabou is also active in promoting girls’ and women’s right to free expression and has championed women’s leadership through her work.” font_container=”tag:h3|text_align:left” google_fonts=”font_family:Alegreya%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic%2C900%2C900italic|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”117411″ img_size=”full” onclick=”custom_link” link=”https://www.indexoncensorship.org/campaigns/letters-from-lukashenkas-prisoners/maria-kalesnikava/”][/vc_column][/vc_row]
3 Aug 2021
[vc_row full_width=”stretch_row” css=”.vc_custom_1569408985014{margin-top: -50px !important;}”][vc_column][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_empty_space height=”45px”][vc_custom_heading text=”ABOUT THE AWARDS” font_container=”tag:h2|text_align:center” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner disable_element=”yes”][vc_column_inner][vc_empty_space height=”45px”][vc_custom_heading text=”FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AWARDS 2022″ font_container=”tag:h2|text_align:center” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner equal_height=”yes” content_placement=”middle”][vc_column_inner el_class=”awards-inside-desc” width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]
Index on Censorship’s Freedom of Expression Awards celebrate those who have had significant impact fighting censorship anywhere in the world. There are three categories: Arts, Campaigning and Journalism.
Winners are honoured at a gala celebration in London and join Index’s Awards Fellowship programme to receive dedicated training and support. The panel of judges for the 2021 Freedom of Expression Awards include writer and columnist Fatima Bhutto, award-winning sculptor Anish Kapoor and Ailbhe Smyth, founding director of the Women’s Education, Resource and Research Centre, University College Dublin.
The 21st Annual Freedom of Expression Awards were held on Sunday 12 September 2021 in London.
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About the Freedom of Expression Awards
Index on Censorship’s Freedom of Expression Awards celebrate those who have had significant impact fighting censorship anywhere in the world. There are four categories: Arts, Campaigning, Journalism and the Trustee award. Winners are honoured at a gala celebration in London and receive dedicated training and support.
The panel of judges for the 2022 Freedom of Expression Awards include award winning artist and academic Coco Fusco, BAFTA and award winning artist Alison Jackson, and Executive Editor and Culture Editor of The Sunday Times Ben Preston. The 22nd Annual Freedom of Expression Awards will be held on Thursday 27 October 2022 in London.
Click here to find out more about previous winners.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_video link=”https://youtu.be/Xc486MkHdig”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row full_width=”stretch_row” el_class=”tpl_awards” css=”.vc_custom_1488298822902{margin-bottom: 25px !important;}”][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”117478″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_custom_heading text=”Gala” font_container=”tag:p|font_size:20|text_align:left” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_column_text el_class=”mw600″]
The 2021 Freedom of Expression Awards winners were announced at a ceremony in London. This special event seeks to celebrate free expression activists and champions. Actress Tracy-Ann Oberman served as ceremony compere
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”118773″ img_size=”full” onclick=”custom_link” img_link_target=”_blank” link=”https://www.indexoncensorship.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Awards-sponsorship-package.pdf”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row full_width=”stretch_row” disable_element=”yes” el_class=”tpl_awards” css=”.vc_custom_1652348786435{margin-bottom: 25px !important;background-color: #0a0a0a !important;}”][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”114257″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”3/4″][vc_custom_heading text=”“The Freedom of Expression Awards are a chance to recognise the astonishing work being done in extraordinary circumstances by artists, journalists, and campaigners around the world. Through exercising the simple right that we take for granted – the right to freely express themselves – they risk everything. The Freedom of Expression Awards bring their stories to light, recognise their courageous actions, and underscore how important it is to protect freedom of expression. We have some truly fantastic nominees this year, and I very much look forward to sharing their stories with you.“
Ruth Smeeth, CEO, Index on Censorship” font_container=”tag:h4|text_align:left|color:%23ffffff”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row full_width=”stretch_row” disable_element=”yes” el_class=”tpl_awards” css=”.vc_custom_1652348396518{margin-bottom: 25px !important;}”][vc_column][vc_column_text el_class=”mw600″]
Sponsorship
There are many ways you can sponsor the Awards, and support not only the winners but all the work Index does. Please contact [email protected] for more information.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row full_width=”stretch_row” el_class=”tpl_awards” css=”.vc_custom_1569441094124{margin-bottom: 25px !important;}”][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AWARDS FELLOWSHIP” font_container=”tag:h2|text_align:center” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row full_width=”stretch_row” disable_element=”yes” el_class=”tpl_awards” css=”.vc_custom_1652348831224{margin-bottom: 25px !important;}”][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”MEET THE JUDGES” font_container=”tag:h2|text_align:center” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row disable_element=”yes”][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”Alison Jackson” font_container=”tag:h3|text_align:center”][vc_empty_space height=”16px”][vc_column_text el_class=”mw600″]
Alison Jackson, a contemporary BAFTA- and multi-award winning artist, explores the cult of celebrity – an extraordinary phenomenon created by the media, publicity industries and the public figures themselves. Her work raises questions about fake news and alternative facts. She makes convincingly realistic work about celebrities doing things in private using cleverly styled lookalikes. Likeness becomes real, and fantasy touches on the believable. She creates scenarios we have all imagined but never seen before.
She explores our desire to get personal with the celebrities fired by our voyeurism. By making photographs that seem to show our favourite celebrities (Diana, Kim K or Brad Pitt) doing what we really, secretly, want to see them doing.
She has been featured in a number of publications, including Who’s Who, Private 2004, Penguin Books; Confidential: What you see in this book is not ‘real’ 2007, Taschen; Up the Aisle, 2011, Quadrille publishing, Stern Fotographie 70 (2012, teNeues;), and Private, (2016 published by AJ Publishing).
Her work has been acquired by many public museum collections, including: The Parliamentary Art Collection, London; The National Portrait Gallery, London; SF MOMA, San Francisco; The Royal College of Art, London; Musée de la Photographie, Charleroi, Brussels; The Frances Foundation Paris; The International Centre of Photography amongst others.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row disable_element=”yes”][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”Ben Preston” font_container=”tag:h3|text_align:center”][vc_empty_space height=”16px”][vc_column_text el_class=”mw600″]
Ben Preston is a British journalist. He is an executive editor and Culture Editor of The Sunday Times and a former deputy editor of the Times and editor of Radio Times.
He began his career in 1987, working on local newspapers (Bristol Evening Post). He worked later for the Press Association as education correspondent before joining The Times. He was The Times deputy editor from 2000 to 2008 and Acting Editor for nine months. Subsequently, he was Executive Editor at The Independent from 2008 before joining Radio Times in 2009.
He was awarded Editors’ Editor in the 2016 BSME awards. He returned to newspapers at The Sunday Times, overseeing news through Brexit and Covid before taking charge of Culture last summer.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row disable_element=”yes”][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”Coco Fusco” font_container=”tag:h3|text_align:center”][vc_empty_space height=”16px”][vc_column_text el_class=”mw600″]
Coco Fusco is an interdisciplinary artist and writer. She is a recipient of numerous awards, including a Guggenheim fellowship, an American Academy of Arts and Letters Award, Latinx Art Award, a Fulbright fellowship and a Herb Alpert Award in the Arts. Fusco’s performances and videos have been presented in the 56th Venice Biennale, Frieze Special Projects, Basel Unlimited, three Whitney Biennials (2022, 2008 and 1993), and several other international exhibitions.
Her works are in the permanent collections of the Museum of Modern Art, The Walker Art Center, the Centre Pompidou, the Imperial War Museum, and the Museum of Contemporary Art of Barcelona. She is the author of Dangerous Moves: Performance and Politics in Cuba (2015). She is represented by Alexander Gray Associates in New York. She is a Professor of Art at Cooper Union.
Fusco is currently preparing new works for the next Sharjah Biennial and a solo retrospective that will open in 2023.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row disable_element=”yes”][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”Trevor Philips” font_container=”tag:h3|text_align:center”][vc_empty_space height=”16px”][vc_column_text el_class=”mw600″]
Trevor Phillips is a writer and television producer. He is the co-founder of the data analytics consultancy Webber Phillips, and Chairman of Green Park Interim and Executive Search. He is a Times columnist, shortlisted for Comment Writer of the Year in 2020.
He is the Chairman of the global freedom of expression campaign charity Index on Censorship; a Senior Fellow at the Policy Exchange think tank; and a Vice-President of the Royal Television Society.
Trevor is a non-executive director of the AIM-listed behavioural science consultancy Mind Gym; he was the President of the John Lewis Partnership Council until 2018, and founding chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row full_width=”stretch_row” disable_element=”yes” el_class=”tpl_awards” css=”.vc_custom_1652348831224{margin-bottom: 25px !important;}”][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”NOMINEES FOR THE 2022 FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AWARDS” font_container=”tag:h2|text_align:center” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text el_class=”mw600″]
The Freedom of Expression Awards Fellowship exists to celebrate individuals or groups who have had a significant impact fighting censorship anywhere in the world. Through the fellowship, Index works with the winners to provide tailored support.
The winners of the 2021 Freedom of Expression Awards are: Kyrgyz artist Tatyana Zelenskaya (arts); imprisoned Egyptian human rights activist Abdelrahman ‘Moka’ Tarek (campaigning); Nigerien blogger and journalist Samira Sabou (journalism), and British academic and free expression activist Dr Arif Ahmed (trustee award).
Previous winners include courageous Honduran investigative journalist Wendy Funes who uncovers corruption and covers the ongoing violations of women’s rights in the country, and anonymous Chinese digital activists GreatFire who have secured significant additional funding since their award.
Click here to find out more about previous winners.
[/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner disable_element=”yes”][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”104535″ img_size=”full” onclick=”custom_link” link=”https://www.indexoncensorship.org/2019/01/awards-2019/”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”105881″ img_size=”full” onclick=”custom_link” link=”https://www.indexoncensorship.org/2019/01/awards-2019/”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row disable_element=”yes”][vc_column][awardsListing name=”Awards” category_id=”8935″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row disable_element=”yes”][vc_column][vc_basic_grid post_type=”post” max_items=”30″ element_width=”2″ item=”mediaGrid_Default” grid_id=”vc_gid:1652355948595-51d8250d-a8e4-5″ taxonomies=”37746″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row equal_height=”yes” disable_element=”yes” el_class=”text_white” css=”.vc_custom_1569443780053{margin-bottom: 15px !important;background-color: #cb3000 !important;background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;border-radius: 1px !important;}”][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_custom_heading text=”Support the Index Awards.” font_container=”tag:p|font_size:26|text_align:center” use_theme_fonts=”yes” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.indexoncensorship.org%2Fsupport-the-freedom-of-expression-awards%2F|||”][vc_column_text]
By donating to the Freedom of Expression Awards you help us support individuals and groups at the forefront of tackling censorship.
Find out more
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″ css=”.vc_custom_1559988967479{background-image: url(https://www.indexoncensorship.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/awards-2019fellows.jpg?id=105848) !important;background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;}”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/4″][vc_custom_heading text=”Arts” font_container=”tag:h4|text_align:center” use_theme_fonts=”yes” link=”|||”][vc_custom_heading text=”Tatyana Zelenskaya” font_container=”tag:h4|text_align:center” use_theme_fonts=”yes” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.indexoncensorship.org%2F2021%2F09%2Farts-2021%2F”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/4″][vc_custom_heading text=”Campaigning” font_container=”tag:h4|text_align:center” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_custom_heading text=”Abdelrahman ‘Moka’ Tarek” font_container=”tag:h4|text_align:center” use_theme_fonts=”yes” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.indexoncensorship.org%2F2021%2F09%2Fcampaigning-2021%2F|title:Campaigning%202021″][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/4″][vc_custom_heading text=”Journalism” font_container=”tag:h4|text_align:center” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_custom_heading text=”Samira Sabou” font_container=”tag:h4|text_align:center” use_theme_fonts=”yes” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.indexoncensorship.org%2F2021%2F09%2Fjournalism-2021%2F|title:Journalism%202021″][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/4″][vc_custom_heading text=”Trustees’ Award” font_container=”tag:h4|text_align:center” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_custom_heading text=”Dr Arif Ahmed” font_container=”tag:h4|text_align:center” use_theme_fonts=”yes” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.indexoncensorship.org%2F2021%2F09%2Ftrustees-2021%2F|title:Trustees%E2%80%99%20Award%202021″][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”117474″ img_size=”full” onclick=”custom_link” link=”https://www.indexoncensorship.org/2021/09/arts-2021/”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”117475″ img_size=”full” onclick=”custom_link” link=”https://www.indexoncensorship.org/2021/09/campaigning-2021/”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”117476″ img_size=”full” onclick=”custom_link” link=”https://www.indexoncensorship.org/2021/09/journalism-2021/”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”117477″ img_size=”full” onclick=”custom_link” link=”https://www.indexoncensorship.org/2021/09/trustees-2021/”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_row_inner disable_element=”yes”][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_custom_heading text=”Arts” font_container=”tag:h3|text_align:center” use_theme_fonts=”yes” link=”|||”][vc_custom_heading text=”For artists and arts producers whose work challenges repression and injustice and celebrates artistic free expression
Click here to see the 2022 nominees” font_container=”tag:h4|text_align:center” use_theme_fonts=”yes” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.indexoncensorship.org%2F2021%2F09%2Farts-2021%2F”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_custom_heading text=”Campaigning” font_container=”tag:h3|text_align:center” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_custom_heading text=”For activists and campaigners who have had a marked impact in fighting censorship and promoting freedom of expression
Click here to see the 2022 nominees” font_container=”tag:h4|text_align:center” use_theme_fonts=”yes” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.indexoncensorship.org%2F2021%2F09%2Fcampaigning-2021%2F|title:Campaigning%202021″][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_custom_heading text=”Journalism” font_container=”tag:h3|text_align:center” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_custom_heading text=”For courageous, high-impact and determined journalism that exposes censorship and threats to free expression
Click here to see the 2022 nominees” font_container=”tag:h4|text_align:center” use_theme_fonts=”yes” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.indexoncensorship.org%2F2021%2F09%2Fjournalism-2021%2F|title:Journalism%202021″][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
The 2021 Freedom of Expression Awards were sponsored by Facebook, Microsoft,
Times and Sunday Times, and Sage.
If you are interested in sponsorship you can contact [email protected]
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