To mark World Press Freedom Day and the awarding of its 2024 international editorial cartoon prize, Cartooning for Peace partners with the Freedom Cartoonists Foundation.
Keynote by the 2003 Nobel Peace Prize laureate Shirin Ebadi from Iran, (mentor of Narges Mohammadi, current Nobel Peace Prize winner imprisoned in Teheran), in discussion with Christiane Amanpour, CNN chief international anchor and member of the Foundation’s advisory board. Followed by a debate on women cartoonists around the world, with Ann Telnaes (USA), Rachita Taneja (India) and Willis from Tunis (Tunisia), moderated by Christiane Amanpour. Presentation of the “Kofi Annan Courage in Cartooning Award 2024” by the City of Geneva and the Freedom Cartoonists Foundation.
Welcoming remarks at 17:30 at the Maison de la Paix by Marie-Laure Salles (Director of the Graduate Institute, IHEID).
Introductions by Chappatte and Marie Heuzé (Chair and Vice-Chair of the Foundation), Sami Kanaan (Administrative Councillorof the City of Geneva) and Volker Türk (UN High Commissioner for Human Rights).
The winners of the International Editorial Cartoon Prize 2024 are:
On her popular online webcomic Sanitary Panels, the young Indian cartoonist Rachita Taneja draws chronicles of daily life in India. She is under the threat of a prison sentence following a complaint lodged by a member of the nationalist party in power in India. She is attacked for her critical cartoons about patriarchy, intolerance, and authoritarianism. Her cartoons on the ban on the hijab in schools gave rise in 2022 to threats of a new trial. India ranks 161 on 180 countries according to RSF Press Freedom Index.
In May 2023, Hong Kong newspaper Ming Pao dismissed Zunzi, its regular cartoonist since 1983. The decision came after months of criticism of Zunzi by officials since Beijing adopted in 2020 National Security Laws that have reshaped Hong Kong’s arts, culture, and the media. His cartoons were denounced by officials for their “sanctimonious humour that damages Hong Kong’s image” and called “ too distorting and unethical ”. Hong Kong ranks 140 on 180 countries on RSF Press Freedom Index.
An international exhibition of press cartoons by the Freedom Cartoonists Foundation, in collaboration with Cartooning for Peace.
The presentation of the International Prize is traditionally accompanied by an exhibition of press cartoons in the most beautiful art gallery in the world, the Quai Wilson, on the shores of Lake Geneva. The 2024 edition is devoted to three topical subjects from the pens of cartoonists from around the world: women’s rights, contemporary wars and artificial intelligence.
The exhibition, produced in partnership with the Cartooning for Peace network, can be seen throughout May.
