Internet Without Borders nominates Two Candidates for the 2018 UNESCO/Guillermo Cano

Paris, Feb 15, 2018 Internet Without Borders nominates Gambian Fatoumata Camara, and Malian Fatouma Harber, two high profile bloggers and freedom of expression advocates, for the UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize of the of 2018.

The prize rewards each year a person/organization institution that has made a notable contribution to the defense and/or promotion of press freedom anywhere in the world, especially if risks have been involved. As a leading organization working on the protection of freedom of expression online, Internet Without Borders is honored to nominate two of the most prominent free expression advocates of West Africa.

Fatoumata Camara was arrested and detained incommunicado in 2013 for 25 days. She was falsely charged with tarnishing the image of former Gambian President Yahya Jammeh by her journalistic work. She moved to the US in exile and set up The Fatu Network in March 2014, which helped in sensitizing the Gambian people on the importance of freedom of expression.

Fatouma Harber, co-created Doniblog, the blogging community of Mali, an association, which fights for freedom of expression and the promotion of digital tools. Fatouma is also a founding member of the # Mali100Mega collective, which has fought, since 2014, to improve the Internet speed in Mali and to decrease its prices. In 2016, she created SankoreLabs, a Timbuktu-based incubator, which works to close the digital divide.

” These two women have shown extraordinary courage to defend free expression in their respective countries. It is an honor for us to nominate them to this very prestigious prize. “, said Julie Owono, the Executive Director of Internet Without Borders.

By supporting these outstanding candidates for the 2018 UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize, Internet Without Borders is honoring its commitment to the fight for freedom of expression and the promotion of digital rights.