Cartoonists Rights, the “first global human rights organisation to focus on the need for protection of the socio-political cartoonist to carry out their work without fear of recrimination” have announced a pledge drive to continue their work. More details in the press release below.
SUPPORT CARTOONISTS RIGHTS, MARKING TWENTY-FIVE YEARS IN THE FIGHT FOR FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION
The swiftly approaching tenth anniversary of the attack Charlie Hebdo magazine, Paris, January 7, 2015 offers an opportunity to reflect on what has changed since that moment when the world’s attention seemed to rest on cartoonists, and world-leaders walked arm-in-arm, declaring their commitment to free expression.
Free speech has become a political football, and a favoured hobby horse of authoritarians and populists. When asked, cartoonists no longer cite the violence of rogue fundamentalists as their chief concern. Indeed, it’s now those chummy world leaders who made a conspicuous showing of solidarity on Parisian streets whom they’re most worried about.
Increasingly, editorial and political cartoonists are abused and threatened online by party-politically motivated trolls, often en masse. They are criminalized under vaguely worded cyber security or anti-misinformation laws, jailed for “insulting” the government, judiciary, or army, and in the worst cases labelled seditionists and terrorists. For many, their only choice is to go into exile.
Cartoonists Rights Network International (or CARTOONISTS RIGHTS for short) was incorporated in 1999, the world’s first human rights non-profit with such cartoonists in mind, and campaigns to defend and support those abused, criminalised, displaced, or threatened because if what they draw.
To support CARTOONISTS RIGHTS, please consider contributing during our Pledge Drive, commencing on “Giving Tuesday”, December 3.
Visit cartoonistsrights.org/donate and keep an eye on our social media for further announcements through the next three weeks: Bluesky – @cartoonistsrights.org • Facebook/Instagram – @cartoonistsrights • Mastodon – @cartooniststrights@newsie.social
