When I first attended the conventions of the Association of American Editorial Cartoonists, I met editorial cartoonists from around the world who bravely use their cartoons to criticize authoritarian governments, religious extremists, criminal gangs, paramilitary forces, and any group that is guilty of human rights abuses. These cartoonists are often harassed, jailed or even killed for using their cartoons to keep those in power to account and to defend vulnerable minority groups.
I deeply admire them.
This year, the Kofi Annan Courage in Cartooning Award 2024 was awarded to Indian Instagram cartoonist Rachita Taneja and Hong Kong editorial cartoonist Zunzi.
On her popular online webcomic Sanitary Panels, the young Indian cartoonist Rachita Taneja draws chronicles of daily life in India. She is under the threat of a prison sentence following a complaint lodged by a member of the nationalist party in power in India. She is attacked for her critical cartoons about patriarchy, intolerance, and authoritarianism. Her cartoons on the ban on the hijab in schools gave rise in 2022 to new threats. India ranks 161 on 180 countries according to RSF Press Freedom Index.
In May 2023, Hong Kong newspaper Ming Pao dismissed Zunzi, its regular cartoonist since 1983. The decision came after months of criticism of Zunzi by officials since Beijing adopted in 2020 National Security Laws that have reshaped Hong Kong’s arts, culture, and the media. His cartoons were denounced by officials for their “sanctimonious humour that damages Hong Kong’s image” and called “ too distorting and unethical ”. Hong Kong ranks 140 on 180 countries on RSF Press Freedom Index.
Welcoming remarks by Marie-Laure Salles, Director, Geneva Graduate Institute
Introductions by:
Patrick Chappatte, President & Marie Heuzé, Vice-President, Freedom Cartoonists Foundation
Sami Kanaan, Administrative Councillor, Department of Culture and Digital Transition, City of Geneva
Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
The keynote speech by Shirin Ebadi will be followed by a discussion on the place of women cartoonists in the world moderated by Christiane Amanpour with :
Nadia Khiari, Tunisian cartoonist, Willis from Tunis
Rachita Taneja, Indian cartoonist, Sanitary Panels
Ann Telnaes, American editorial cartoonist, Washington Post
The Freedom Cartoonists Foundation will then hand out the 2024 Kofi Annan Courage in Cartooning Award.
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