Dawit Isaak to receive UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize, 2017

Dawit Isaak, an imprisoned Eritrean-Swedish journalist has been chosen for the UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize 2017 dedicated to promoting press freedom. The award is to be presented on May 3, 2017.

• The decision was made for his critical and insightful reporting.
• 14 independent international jury of media professionals recommended Dawit Isaak in recognition of his courage, resistance and commitment to freedom of expression for this award.

About UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize

• UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize is created in 1997 and was awarded for the persons who have made an outstanding contribution to the defense with promotion of press freedom.
• The prize money worth USD 45000 is awarded each year on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day on 3 May.
• The first ever UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize was won by Gao Yu from China.
• In 2016 it was won by Khadija Ismayilova of Azerbaijan.

Early life of Dawit Isaak

Dawit Isaak is a Swedish-Eritrean playwright, journalist and writer, born on October 28, 1964 in Asmara, Ethiopian Empire.

• Isaak moved in 1987 to Sweden, where he later became a citizen of Sweden.
• After the independence of Eritrea in 1993, he returned to his homeland to become one of the founders and reporters of
• He had been held in prison since 2001 without trial and is considered a traitor by the Eritrean government.
• Isaak was released from jail only to see a doctor on November 19, 2005.
• In his life at prison, he has written a Novel called ‘Hope’.

Awards won by Dawit Isaak

• Isaak was awarded a prize in memory of Anna Politkovskaya by the Swedish National Press Club in 2007.
• Isaak was awarded the Kurt Tucholsky Prize by the Swedish P.E.N. Association in 2009.
• He was awarded the Norwegian “Ytringsfrihetsprisen” the Freedom of Expression Prize, 2009 in the year 2010.
• Isaak received the Golden Pen of Freedom Award of the World Association of Newspapers

Eritrea

• Capital: Asmara.
• Currency: Nakfa.
• President: Isaias Afwerki.