Supporting threatened cartoonists around the world has always been centre to Cartooning for Peace’s mission. Since its creation, the organisation has kept a daily watch on the situation of threatened press cartoonists around the world.
This mission puts Cartooning for Peace at the heart of the geopolitical upheavals and authoritarian excesses observed around the world. It confirms that press cartoonists are often on the front line of repression, veritable sentinels of freedom of expression.
A cartoonist may in particular:
In a global context that is increasingly repressive and precarious for cartoonists, Cartooning for Peace must strengthen its action and resources in order to:
Much of Cartooning for Peace’s support work is not visible.
We bring you testimonials from cartoonists who have been supported by the organisation when faced with a difficult situation related to their work as press cartoonists…
“When the social crisis broke out in my home country, Nicaragua, independent journalists were among the first to be threatened and persecuted by the regime.
Cartooning for Peace was with me every step of the way and, in coordination with other organisations, played an essential role in enabling me to leave the country safely with my family. Cartooning for Peace paid for the plane tickets, was attentive to the immigration procedure (with letters of reference from the organisation and the network of cartoonists), and invited me to several events in Europe to help make visible the serious crisis in my country, which is still ongoing.
I’m proud to say that I haven’t stopped working as a cartoonist for a single day since I left.”
Shilov (Russia)“Immediately after Putin’s attack on Ukraine in February 2022, our family left Russia for fear of political persecution.
Thanks to Cartooning for Peace, we not only had the opportunity to come to France, but we continue to receive integration support – contacts, exhibitions, participation in conferences – in the country.
Their advice was important in the decision to grant our family protection. Their support helps us to participate in various activities related to caricature and freedom of expression.”
Osman Obaid (Sudan)“I received death threats and other threats linked to my comics after the war broke out in Sudan (in 2022) and I had to flee the country with my family.
When the war broke out, Cartooning for Peace was the first to call me to find out how I was doing. Cartooning for Peace put me in touch with organisations that gave me a lot of support, which helped me to leave Sudan and settle elsewhere temporarily.”
Musa Kart (Türkiye)“My country, Türkiye, has never been an easy place for dissidents who look, write and draw about life from a different point of view. I was the victim of increasingly repressive policies and was imprisoned for a total of 14 months.
During this period, the extraordinary support and solidarity of Cartooning for Peace made me feel like a member of the worldwide family of press cartoonists.
I am continuing my work using the alternative opportunities that have developed, with the threat of punishment hanging over my head, as my ban on travelling abroad is still in force…
Once again, I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to Cartooning for Peace and my cartoonist friends around the world who have shown their solidarity during my period of imprisonment.”
“Because of my long history as a newspaper cartoonist in Kabul, I felt threatened after the unexpected fall of the Kabul government on 15 August 2021.
The unfailing and ongoing support of Cartooning for Peace colleagues has been exceptional. After a great deal of effort, the organisation managed to get me on the Reporters Without Borders emergency list.
So, on 10 December 2021, with the support and cooperation of these organisations, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the French government, I arrived in France and was welcomed and supported by the French people.”
Cartoon by Molina (Nicaragua)
