This 15-month project, which received financial support from the Global Media Defence Fund (GMDF) managed by UNESCO, has the main objective to improve the legal protection of editorial cartoonists and thus contribute to an environment of free, plural and quality information for all citizens.
In proposing this project, Cartooning for Peace wishes to respond to the demand expressed by cartoonists to know and understand the texts and mechanisms inherent in the regulation of freedom of expression at the international level, while at the same time reporting on the growing number of cases of censorship through the courts.
It was global in scope and focused on information, capacity building, access to legal aid and advocacy for cartoonists.
This project has been followed up by a project supported by the GMDF and the Isocrates Foundation in 2022-2023: “Enhancing legal support to press cartoonists in the digital age”.
In addition to ongoing monitoring of threats to cartoonists and support for their work in collaboration with its long-standing partners, Cartooning for Peace organised four thematic online sessions led by Media Defence between October and November 2021: one dedicated to Africa, one dedicated to Asia, one dedicated to Europe and one dedicated to Latin America.
The content of these sessions has been translated into 4 practical sheets divided by geographical region – annexed to 2022 update of the Practical guide for the Protection of editorial cartoonists. They are made available to cartoonists and also to legal practitioners who may be able to assist them in their work. They contain the key texts, the institutions responsible for their application, concrete examples and useful links.
Cartoon: Mana Neyestani (Iran)
