Sri Lankan journalist missing for 500 days
New York, June 8, 2011–It has been exactly 500 days since Sri Lankan journalist Prageeth Eknelygoda disappeared. He has not been seen by his wife Sandhya Eknelygoda or by the couple’s two teenage sons, Sanjay and Harith, since he left for work around 7:30 a.m., on the morning of January 24, 2010. Sandhya filed a complaint…
How can Pakistani journalists protect themselves?
The memorial service in Washington for journalist Saleem Shahzad–who was killed around May 29–was held at the National Press Club this past Monday. Anwar Iqbal, dean of the Pakistani press corps in Washington, led the ceremony. Ambassador to the U.S. Hussain Haqqani spoke eloquently about the degree of loss brought by Shahzad’s brutal killing. While…
In Iran, more abuse of unjustly imprisoned journalists
New York, June 7, 2011–Iranian authorities continue to punish unjustly imprisoned journalists when they demand basic rights. They also retaliate when these journalists speak out about their mistreatment and the substandard conditions in prison, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.
Journalists speak out on sexual attacks
CNN.com ran an op-ed by CPJ Deputy Editor Lauren Wolfe on sexual violence against journalists. The op-ed was published on June 7, the same day CPJ released the special report The silencing crime: Sexual violence and journalists authored by Wolfe. Click here for the full story
Central African Republic editor charged with incitement
New York, June 7, 2011–Central African Republic authorities have charged the director of the independent weekly The Hills of Bangui, Faustin Bambou, with inciting hatred and disorder among the military forces and insulting the government, Bambou told CPJ. The director was sent directly to Ngaragba Prison in the capital, Bangui. Four military policemen arrested Bambou at his…
In Afghanistan, religious threat to media intensifies
New York, June 7, 2011–The Committee to Protect journalists is disturbed by the June 1 declaration by Afghanistan’s Ulema Shurab, or the Council of Religious Scholars, criticizing two media outlets, Hasht-e-Subh Daily newspaper and Tolo Television, for what it reportedly called “immorality” and “animosity against Islam,” according to Afghan media owners. The council is a…
The silencing crime: Sexual violence and journalists
Few cases of sexual assault against journalists have ever been documented, a product of powerful cultural and professional stigmas. But now dozens of journalists are coming forward to say they have been sexually abused in the course of their work. A CPJ special report by Lauren Wolfe
CPJ security guide: Addendum on sexual aggression
In conjunction with the release of its special report, “The Silencing Crime: Sexual Violence and Journalists,” CPJ is issuing an addendum to its existing journalist security guide. The addendum, written by CPJ Journalist Security Coordinator Frank Smyth, addresses the issue of sexual aggression against journalists and focuses on ways to minimize the risk.The addendum, published…
Audio Report: The Silencing Crime
Journalists around the world are talking more candidly about sexual abuse they’ve experienced on the job. CPJ Senior Editor Lauren Wolfe, author of the special report, “The Silencing Crime,” describes her findings in this podcast. Listen on the player above, or right click here to download an MP3. (2:05) Read CPJ’s special report, “The Silencing…