UNESCO Director General: Journalist to Keep Voicing the Truth

Jakarta, InfoPublik - Director General of the United Nations Organization for Education, Science and Culture (UNESCO) Irina Bokova said UNESCO continues to encourage journalists to continue voicing the truth even under threat.

"Violence and brutality must be combatted by all parties everywhere," Bokova said after awarding the Guillermo Cano award to Dawit Isaak who was represented by his daughter, Bethlehem Isaak at the Jakarta Convention Center (JCC), Wednesday (3/5).

Bokova asserted that Guillermo Cano award is given to individuals or institutions that have tremendous dedication to the freedom of the press.

This year, Dawit Isaak, an Eritrean journalist who later became Swedish citizen, has been chosen to receive the 2017 Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize. A year after Eritrea gained its independence in 1993, Dawit Isaak returned to his native country. He founded Setit, the first independent newspaper in Eritrea which became a very critical media against dictatorial rule.

"Dawit Isaak has sent his message to the international community to fight despite the risk it possess," he said.

Meanwhile, Bethlehem says she will continue to carry out dialogue with Eritrean youth. "I will fight for social justice in Eritrea, and focus on developing mutually beneficial cooperation," she said.

Since 1997, UNESCO has been annually awarding Guillermo Cano award to journalists or media organizations anywhere in the world that maintain or promote press freedom even in the face of intimidation, threats, and danger.

This prestigious press award was named in honor of a Colombian journalist who was killed by drug mafia on December 17, 1986 in Bogota. He was killed by a barrage of bullets in front of the El Espectador office, his workplace. (Translator: Siti Chodijah)