Belarusian Association of Journalists awarded the UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize 2022

The Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ) was formed in 1995 as a non-governmental association of media workers with the objective of promoting freedom of expression and independent journalism in Belarus. It brings together over 1300 associated journalists, and  is a member of the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and of the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ).

In August 2021, following the raiding by police of its offices in Belarus, the Supreme Court of Belarus ordered the dissolution of the organization, at the request of the country’s Ministry of Justice.

The $25,000 Prize recognizes outstanding contributions to the defence or promotion of press freedom especially in the face of danger. It is named after Guillermo Cano Isaza, the Colombian journalist who was assassinated in front of the offices of his newspaper El Espectador in Bogotá, Colombia, on 17 December 1986. It is funded by the Guillermo Cano Isaza Foundation (Colombia), the Helsingin Sanomat Foundation (Finland), the Namibia Media Trust, Democracy & Media Foundation Stichting Democratie & Media (The Netherlands), and the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

The 2022 World Press Freedom Day Global Conference will take place from 2 to 5 May in a hybrid format in Punta Del Este, Uruguay. Under the theme “Journalism under Digital Siege”, the Conference will discuss the impact of the digital era on freedom of expression, the safety of journalists, access to information and privacy. During more than 50 sessions featuring dozens of speakers, World Press Freedom Day 2022 will reunite relevant stakeholders such as policymakers, journalists, media representatives, activists, cybersecurity managers and legal experts to explore these issues and develop concrete solutions to address the threats posed to press freedom and privacy in the digital age.