Discussion on 20 June to examine the plight of journalists and writers living in exile.
17 June 2011. To mark World Refugee Day, English Pen, Index on Censorship and the Committee to Protect Journalists invite you to a panel discussion examining the plight of journalists and writers living in exile.
Elisabeth Witchel, Campaign Consultant at the Committee to Protect Journalists, will be joined by three writers living in exile in the UK: Iranian journalist and human rights activist Yousef Azizi Banitorof, Sri Lankan journalist and press freedom activist Uvindu Kurukulasuriya, and the first Vice-President of the Gambia Press Union Sarata Jabbi-Dibba. Together they will explore the reasons behind the choice or coercion faced by those who leave their homelands, and the main challenges once in exile. The event will be chaired by Rohan Jayasekera, Associate Editor of Index on Censorship.
This event marks the release of the Committee to Protect Journalists 2011 Journalists in Exile survey and aims to provide context and more in-depth discussion on the points raised therein.
The survey highlights which countries around the world have driven the most journalists into exile and why, as well as looking at the broader impacts on media coverage in those countries. It also underscores some of the challenges of going into exile, such as obtaining visas, negotiating what is often a very complex asylum process, and the fact that many journalists in exile have great difficulty in continuing their work in journalism.
The discussion will be followed by a wine reception in the main hall.
WHEN: Monday 20 June, 6.30pm
WHERE: Free Word Centre, 60 Farringdon Road, London, EC1R 3GA
HOW TO BOOK:
This is a free event but as space is limited please email ewitchel@cpj.org to reserve your place.