World’s Longest Arbitrarily Detained Journalist Receives the Edelstam Prize
The Edelstam Prize 2024 is awarded to Mr. Dawit Isaak for his outstanding contributions and exceptional courage in standing up for freedom of expression, one’s beliefs, and in the defence of Human Rights. The prize will be awarded during a ceremony at the House of Nobility in Stockholm, Sweden, on 19th November 2024.
Edelstam Prize Award Ceremony
19 November 2024
Edelstam Prize Seminar
20 November 2024
Press Conference
11 November 2024
PHOTOS FROM THE PRIZE AWARD CEREMONY
SCREENING OF THE MOVIE "NORMA – A QUEST FOR JUSTICE"
On November 14, Norma – A Quest for Justice was screened in Geneva, sharing the story of Norma Andrade, a 2022 Edelstam Prize laureate. The documentary follows Norma’s 23-year struggle for justice after her daughter, Alejandra, was murdered in Ciudad Juárez—a city marked by ongoing violence against women.
Norma’s case, now before the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, could become only the second feminicide case ruled on by the court. The event featured welcome remarks from representatives of the Kofi Annan Foundation, the Belgian Mission to the UN, and the film’s director, followed by a panel discussion with Norma Andrade, her lawyer, and experts from UN Women and the Geneva Graduate Institute.
The screening was organised in partnership with UN Women, FILMAR en América Latina, The Edelstam Foundation, and others.
Today, on the occasion of the International Human Rights Day, the Vienna Master of Arts in Applied Human Rights proudly opened the thought-provoking art installation “Dawit Isaak. A Voice from Prison” at the Square of Human Rights, Vienna.
This interactive installation highlights the story of Dawit Isaak, a journalist and author who symbolizes the global fight for press freedom, enduring over two decades of arbitrary imprisonment.
The centerpiece—a 20-foot shipping container—symbolizes Dawit’s confinement, with his monologue hauntingly resonating from within. Public readings of Dawit’s writings invite visitors to reflect and lend their voices in solidarity, emphasizing the critical importance of press freedom and human rights.
As part of the two-day event, “Poetry from Eritrean Exile and Reflections on Current Developments of Freedom of the Press,” featuring readings by Eritrean writers in exile, including Awet Fissehaye and Saba Kidane, will be held.
Further, the theatre monologue, "Dawit or Every Century has its own Hideous Face" in which Wolfgang Martin Roth lets us participate in Dawit's fears, longings, doubts, hunger for life, homesickness and his hopes for normality.
The event is organized by Wolfgang Martin Roth, in collaboration with PEN Eritrea, PEN Austria, Theodor Kramer Society, and the Vienna Master of Arts in Applied Human Rights at the University of Applied Arts, Vienna.
Location: Square of Human Rights, Mariahilferstrasse 1, 1070 Vienna
Date: December 9, 24 from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., December 10, 24 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Official Opening Act: December 9, 10.00 am
Dawit Isaak, the world’s longest arbitrarily arrested author/journalist, is at the center of the art installation. Based on his fate, attention is drawn to the alarming development of press freedom and the safety of authors and journalists:
A 20-foot shipping container stands at Human Rights Square as a symbol of Dawit Isaak’s imprisonment. Dawit’s monologue sounds from inside. A haunting image emerges... a captivating monologue can be heard.
At the same time, Dawit Isaak’s writings are read at the beginning of the square. People who are currently frequenting the square are addressed and invited to pause, take in the installation, to listen and to actively participate by reading themselves - thereby lending their voice to Dawit.
Interactive event. No registration necessary.
The art installation is part of the press freedom and human rights art project „Freedom for Dawit! Press freedom!“, which is taking place on the occasion of International Human Rights Day with 3 events at 3 locations in Vienna.
Information about the overall project with all 3 events can be found at: https://www.wolfgangmartinroth.at/dawit
