By Rachel Kakraba
Three imprisoned Iranian female journalists have been awarded the 2023 UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize. The three Niloofar Hamedi, Elaheh Mohammadi and Narges Mohammadi were given the recognition following the recommendation of an International Jury of media professionals. The Award Ceremony which took place in New York City, marks the conclusion of the 30th anniversary event of World Press Freedom Day in the UN Headquarters. More than 1,000 participants took part in the special anniversary event at the UN General Assembly Hall in New York City, the same place where 3 May was proclaimed World Press Freedom Day in 1993.
In a remark, the Director-General of UNESCO Audrey Azoulay, said the award is to pay tribute to all women who face difficulties in the discharge of their duties.
“Now more than ever, it is important to pay tribute to all women journalists who are prevented from doing their jobs and who face threats and attacks on their personal safety. Today we are honouring their commitment to truth and accountability.”
This year’s World Press Freedom Day global celebration focused on the role of freedom of expression and the free and independent press in ensuring human rights.
About the three laureates
Niloofar Hamedi writes for the leading reformist daily newspaper Shargh. She broke the news of the death of Masha Amini following her detention in police custody on 16 September 2022. She has been detained in solitary confinement in Iran’s Evin Prison since September 2022.
Amini was arrested in Tehran on September 13, 2022, for “inappropriate attire” and died three days later while in custody, sparking demonstrations that represent the biggest challenge to Iran’s leaders in years.
Elaheh Mohammadi writes for the reformist newspaper, Ham-Mihan, covering social issues and gender equality. She reported on Masha Amini’s funeral, and has also been detained in Evin Prison since September 2022. She had previously been barred from reporting for a year in 2020 due to her work.
Niloofar Hamedi and Elaheh Mohammadi are joint winners of both the 2023 International Press Freedom Award by Canadian Journalists for Free Expression (CJFE), and Harvard’s 2023 Louis M. Lyons Award for Conscience and Integrity in Journalism. They were named as two of Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People of 2023.
Narges Mohammadi has worked for many years as a journalist for a range of newspapers and is also an author and Vice-Director of the Tehran-based civil society organization Defenders of Human Rights Center (DHRC). She is currently serving a 16-year prison sentence in Evin Prison. She has continued to report in print from prison, and has also interviewed other women prisoners. These interviews were included in her book “White Torture”. In 2022, she won the Reporters Without Borders’ (RSF) Courage Prize.
Women journalists under threat
Globally, women, journalists and media workers face increasing offline and online attacks and are subject to disproportionate and specific threats. The gender-based violence they are exposed to includes stigmatization, sexist hate speech, trolling, physical assault, rape and even murder. UNESCO advocates for the safety of women journalists and collaborates with partners to identify and implement good practices and share recommendations with all parties involved in countering attacks against women journalists, as recognized by numerous UN resolutions.
UNESCO works with partners to develop practical tools for journalists, media managers and newsrooms to respond to online and offline abuse. UNESCO also partners with specialized organizations to train women media workers on the ground and through online training courses, and works with security forces to sensitize them on freedom of expression with a gender focus.
About the UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize
Created in 1997, the annual UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize honours a person, organization or institution which has made an outstanding contribution to the defence and/or promotion of press freedom anywhere in the world, especially when this has been achieved in the face of danger. It is the only prize awarded to journalists within the UN System.
It is named after Guillermo Cano Isaza, the Colombian journalist who was assassinated in front of the offices of his newspaper El Espectador in Bogotá, Colombia, on 17 December 1986, and funded by the Guillermo Cano Isaza Foundation (Colombia), the Helsingin Sanomat Foundation (Finland), the Namibia Media Trust, Democracy & Media Foundation Stichting Democratie & Media ( raises global awareness through events such as World Press Freedom Day (3 May) and the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists (2 November) held annually.
