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Drawing attention to the crimes committed against judges, Aries
Rufo’s article underlines the crucial importance of impartial
justice in ensuring the rule of law in a democratic society
IT’S the sort of accolade that Chief Justice
Renato Puno would thoroughly approve of since it concerns a worrying
matter that has been exercising his mind since he took office.
Filipino journalist Aries Rufo has been awarded the European
Commission’s Lorenzo Natali Prize for journalists in
recognition of an intuitive article about the alarming rate in which
judges are being killed in the Philippines.
Rufo—who was awarded the first prize for the
Asia-Pacific region at a ceremony in Strasbourg, France—was one of
five first prize-winners from all over the world, having been
selected from among more than 1500 nominees from 150 countries. He
received a prize of +5000 and a trophy.
Ambassador Alistair MacDo-nald of the Delegation
of the European Commission to the Philippines congratulated Rufo for
his comprehensive reportage on the threats facing the judiciary in
the Philippines, in his article “A Cry for Justice: 44 Judges
Killed in Recent Years,” published in Newsbreak magazine.
By drawing attention to the crimes committed
against judges, the article underlines the crucial importance of
impartial justice in ensuring the rule of law in a democratic
society and the threats which can still exist against those who work
for the rule of law.
In applauding this first Natali Prize for the
Philippines, Ambassador MacDonald expressed the hope that “the
work of Rufo and of all the other journalists who have the courage
and tenacity to address these issues, would serve as an inspiration
to Philippine society, and act as a beacon for fundamental freedoms,
human rights and the rule of law.”
A total of seventeen prizes were awarded: one
Grand Prize, plus five regional prizes (for Asia-Pacific, Africa,
Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean and the Middle East, each
with 1st, 2nd and 3rd prizes) and a special television and radio
award. Larisse Houssou of Benin received the Grand Prize for his
article on Darfur entitled “Trained to kill . . . ” Apart from
Rufo, journalists from India picked up the 2nd and 3rd prizes for
the Asia-Pacific region.
In awarding the prizes, European Commissioner
for Development Louis Michel said: “Committed journalism involves
risks but embodies an ideal, that of freedom of expression.
Journalism that is committed to human rights, democracy and
development proves that the ideals of the Enlightenment are alive
and well in our world. The Natali Prize affords an opportunity to
recognize the achievements of journalists who have always acted in
the interests of society, democracy and fundamental freedoms.
Journalism is real-life education in citizenship. Without lively,
independent journalism, democracy would be illusory.”
This prestigious award is named after Lorenzo
Natali, a former vice president of the European Commission in charge
of cooperation for development between 1985 and 1989. His work and
personal commitment very much contributed to increasing the
importance of cooperation policy for development in the European
Communities of that time. Natali created a large network of
relations with the governments and the state chiefs of Africa, the
Caribbean and Asia-Pacific countries.
The Natali Prize—with a selection board made
up of journalists and representatives of nongovern-ment
organizations—was established in 1992 and is open to journalists
worldwide, and in 2008 attracted 1500 entries from 151 countries
around the world. For the first time it has also included television
and radio, in addition to the press and online media.
Note Ambassador MacDonald: “The prize has
become a key expression of the European Commission’s development
policy, underlining the essential importance of fighting to defend
fundamental freedoms, including the freedom of expression,
democracy, human rights and the rule of law.”
This year the European Commission has worked to
organize the Lorenzo Natali Prize together with two of the world’s
most prestigious worldwide press associations— Reporters without
Borders (winner of the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought in
2005) and the World Association of Newspapers, which represents over
18 000 publications on five continents.
rjottings@yahoo.com
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