MIL OSI Translation. Canadian French to English –
Source: Government of Canada – in French
Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Honourable Mélanie Joly, and the United Kingdom’s Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Africa), HE Lord Collins of Highbury, presented the award to Amu TV CEO Lotfullah Najafizada on behalf of his fellow journalists and independent Afghan media.
September 27, 2024 – New York, United States of America – Global Affairs Canada
The 2024 Canada-UK Press Freedom Award was presented today to independent Afghan journalists and media outlets for their courage in reporting despite restrictions imposed by the Taliban.
Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Honourable Mélanie Joly, and the United Kingdom’s Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Africa), HE Lord Collins of Highbury, presented the award to Amu TV CEO Lotfullah Najafizada on behalf of his fellow journalists and independent Afghan media.
This award is a testament to Canada and the UK’s enduring commitment to supporting free and independent journalism.
Every day, independent Afghan journalists and media continue to provide a platform for uncensored information and hope in Afghanistan in the face of severe repression by the Taliban since August 2021.
Journalists and independent media are facing the risks posed by the Taliban’s harsh crackdown on journalism, working courageously to ensure press freedom is maintained in a difficult climate. They are reporting on the critical issues facing Afghanistan under Taliban rule, including human rights violations and the plight of women and girls, including forced marriages and denial of access to education.
Established in 2020, the Canada–UK Press Freedom Award recognizes individuals who have defended freedom of expression and democracy.
Egyptian online newspaper Mada Masr won the award in 2023. Vietnamese journalist Pham Doan Trang was the winner in 2022, and the 2020 prize went to the Belarusian Association of Journalists.
The announcement of the 2024 prize takes place during the high-level week of the United Nations General Assembly.
The Media Freedom Coalition, which was co-founded by the United Kingdom and Canada and now has more than 50 members, celebrated its fifth anniversary during the week’s activities.
EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and/or sentence structure not be perfect.