An Indian and a Hong Konger, international press cartoon prize “Kofi Annan Courage in cartooning award”.

This prize awarded on Friday preceded the inauguration of an exhibition of press cartoons on the shores of Lake Geneva, not far from the headquarters of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights

A Hong Kong cartoonist, Zunzi, and an Indian cartoonist, Rachita Taneja, were recognized Friday on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day, with the international press cartoon prize “Kofi Annan Courage in cartooning award “.

This prize and an exhibition of press cartoons inaugurated on Friday in the presence of Iranian lawyer Shirin Ebadi, 2003 Nobel Peace Prize winner, were organized by the Freedom Cartoonists Foundation, chaired by Swiss cartoonist Patrick Chappatte, and the City of Geneva . The Kofi Annan Courage in cartooning award is awarded every two years. “It is the ever-increasing number of female press cartoonists that we particularly want to salute. In addition to the pressures that come with working in the profession, they face threats linked to their status as women.“, underlined Patrick Chappatte.

Banned in libraries

The cartoonist Zunzi, born in 1955 in Hong Kong, began his career as a political cartoonist in 1983 at the Ming Pao newspaper, the Foundation points out in a press release.

“His illustrations address sensitive subjects in the spirit of political satire. But in May 2023, in a context of repression of freedoms, Ming Pao ended his contract” And “since 2023, his books and albums are among the many titles banned in public libraries“, adds the foundation. Hong Kong is ranked 140th out of 180 according to the Reporters Without Borders (RSF) Press Freedom Index.

Sword of Damocles

Rachita Taneja, the other winner of the prize, is an Indian artist who comments on politics and social events in the form of a comic strip. Its skinny characters talk about themes ranging from harassment to menstruation, from homophobia to democracy, underlines the Foundation’s press release.

The designer finds herself today with a sword of Damocles hanging over her head. In December 2020, a complaint for contempt of the Supreme Court was filed against him by a member of the student wing of the ruling party. The prosecutor initiated proceedings. If found guilty, Rachita Taneja risks six months in prison, specifies the foundation. India ranks 161st out of 180 countries for press freedom according to the RSF Index.

The exhibition of press cartoons Designs for freedomwhich runs until June 2, addresses three current topics this year: women’s rights, contemporary wars in the Middle East, Ukraine and Sudan, and artificial intelligence.