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Press Freedom in Ethiopia, Paraguay, Malaysia, and Syria: A Dialogue with CPJ's 2015 International Press Freedom Awardees

Date:
Location:
2255 Rayburn House Office Building

Announcement

Co-hosted by the Senate Human Rights Caucus
Briefing Series on the Shrinking Space for Civil Society

Please join the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission and the Senate Human Rights Caucus for a briefing and dialogue with the 2015 recipients of the Committee to Protect Journalists International Press Freedom Award.

Journalists foster accountability through their reporting on politics, crime, corruption and human rights abuses. However, in many countries journalists work in a climate of fear, intimidation and censorship generated by repressive governments and, increasingly, by illegal non-state actors and criminal organizations. 

Each year, the Committee to Protect Journalists recognizes courageous journalists from around the world with its International Press Freedom Award. The 2015 awardees are all from countries where press freedom is under stark attack:

  • Zone 9 bloggers (Ethiopia)
  • Zulkiflee Anwar Ulhaque, “Zunar” (Malaysia)
  • Cándido Figueredo Ruíz (Paraguay)
  • Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently (Syria)

These journalists have endured death threats, physical attacks, legal harassment, imprisonment, and exile in the course of their work. They will share their insights and concerns about the state of media freedom in their respective countries, and provide recommendations as to how the U.S. government, and especially the Congress, can strengthen and support media freedom in an increasingly contentious and conflict-ridden world.

The briefing will be open to members of Congress, congressional staff, the interested public and the media. For any questions, please contact Elias Flamenco (for Rep. McGovern) at 202-225-3599 or Elias.Flamenco-Rivera@mail.house.gov or Carson Middleton (for Rep. Pitts) at 202-225-2411 or Carson.Middleton@mail.house.gov.

Hosted by:

Chris Coons
U.S. Senator
Co-Chair, SHRC
 
Mark Kirk
U.S. Senator
Co-Chair, SHRC
 
James P. McGovern
Member of Congress
Co-Chair, TLHRC
Joseph R. Pitts
Member of Congress
Co-Chair, TLHRC
Witnesses

Opening Remarks

  • Rep. James P. McGovern, Co-Chair, Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission

Panelists 

  • Candido Figueredo Ruiz, Paraguay
  • Abdel Aziz Al-Hamza, Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently, Syria
  • Soleyana Gebrichael, Zone 9 Bloggers, Ethiopia
  • Zulkiflee Anwar Ulhaque, "Zunar," Malaysia

Moderator

  • Dr. Courtney C. Radsch, Committee to Protect Journalists

Bios

Contact The Commission

Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission
House Committee on Foreign Affairs
4150 O'Neill House Office Building
200 C Street SW
Washington, D.C. 20515
United States of America

Phone: +1 (202) 225-3599
TLHRC@mail.house.gov

Accessibility

The Commission seeks to make its events, meetings and hearings accessible to persons with disabilities.

If you are in need of special accommodations, please call (202) 225-3599 at least four business days in advance.

Questions with regard to special accommodations in general (including availability of Commission materials in alternative formats and assistive listening devices, sign language interpretation, etc.) may be directed to the Commission.

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