The 2025 Breach/Valdez Award for Journalism and Human Rights is now calling for entries, celebrating the legacies of slain journalists Miroslava Breach and Javier Valdez. Organized by a coalition including the UN agencies and various embassies, this award seeks to honor outstanding reporting on human rights and children’s rights published in 2024.
Open for submissions from January 8 to February 19, 2025, the award will be presented during an event commemorating World Press Freedom Day in May. Winners will receive a monetary prize, a scholarship at Ibero-American University, and educational trips in Europe or to UNICEF destinations, focusing on enhancing awareness about the plight of journalists in Mexico.
This award emerges from the grim reality of journalistic risks in Mexico, labeled one of the perilous countries for reporters. With threats of violence, forced disappearances, and murder, journalists navigate a treacherous landscape. UNESCO’s findings reveal alarmingly long resolutions for many journalist killings, underscoring the need for vigilant protections and accountability.
The Breach/Valdez Award sheds light on journalism’s crucial role in democracy, urging states to safeguard journalists and combat impunity. The UN’s Plan of Action emphasizes the necessity of investigating threats against reporters, as a lack of accountability can lead to a chilling effect on free expression.
The organizing bodies reaffirm their dedication to supporting journalists and bolstering freedoms of expression in Mexico. They encourage participation in this vital award and invite journalists to stay updated via their website or social media, with the registration period closing at 11:59 PM Mexico City time on February 19, 2025.
The 2025 Breach/Valdez Award invites entries to honor exceptional journalism focused on human rights, particularly in Mexico, where the journey for reporters is fraught with danger. Open from January 8 to February 19, 2025, winners will receive awards that include monetary prizes and educational trips. The initiative underscores the imperative for the protection of journalists amidst rising threats in the country.
The Breach/Valdez Award epitomizes the fight for journalistic integrity in Mexico, highlighting the urgent need to protect writers who bravely address human rights issues. The commitment of organizing bodies to support journalists strengthens the call for accountability and justice, essential for a thriving democracy. By recognizing remarkable journalistic efforts, the award inspires others to engage in this vital mission of truth and freedom.
In Mexico, journalism faces acute dangers, with numerous reporters subjected to threats, violence, and even murder. The Breach/Valdez Award serves to honor and promote journalistic achievements focused on human rights, specifically in a country where systemic violence against journalists is rampant. This award not only commemorates those lost but also strives to foster a safer environment for current and future journalists.
Original Source: www.unesco.org
