GENEVA: FREEDOM CARTOONISTS today announce the 2024 winners of the Kofi Annan Courage in Cartooning Award, Rachita Taneja of India, creator of the Sanitary Panels web comics and Wong Kei-kwan, pen-name Zunzi, from Hong Kong. The two laureates will receive their awards from Nobel Peace Prize winner Dr Shirin Ebadi (Iran) at the conclusion of a gala event focused on the challenges faced by the world’s female cartoonists and rights activists.
The 2024 laureates
Rachita Taneja
Rachita Taneja’s popular online webcomic Sanitary Panels chronicles daily life in India. Since the end of 2020 the cartoonist has labored under the threat of a prison sentence following a complaint lodged with the Supreme Court. She is frequently attacked for her cartoons’ criticisms of patriarchy, religious intolerance, and nationalist authoritarianism. Her 2022 cartoons on the ban on the hijab in schools gave rise to threats of further prosecution.
Zunzi (Wong Kei-kwan)
In May 2023, Hong Kong’s Ming Pao newspaper dismissed its cartoonist Zunzi, who drew a regular feature for the paper since 1983. The decision came after months of criticism of the cartoonist by multiple public officials, and following the adoption of 2020’s National Security Laws that reshaped Hong Kong’s arts, culture, and the media. His cartoons were denounced for their “sanctimonious humor that damages Hong Kong’s image” and described as “distorting and unethical”.
“On May 3, we celebrate freedom of the press and editorial cartooning with our biennial international cartoon prize, the Kofi Annan Courage in Cartooning Award, named in honor of our late honorary chairman. In 2024, the award recognizes Zunzi from Hong Kong, dismissed by his newspaper for his critical cartoons, and Rachita Taneja from India, known for her online political and social strips. This year, amid the clamor of arms, we are fortunate and privileged to welcome in Geneva the precious voice of Shirin Ebadi. Her country, Iran, at the heart of the Middle East turmoil, has produced two Nobel Peace Prize laureates, both women: activist and journalist Narges Mohammadi, who received her award in 2023 while in a Tehran prison, and her mentor, lawyer Shirin Ebadi, some twenty years earlier. Of note today are the women carrying the torch of peace, whether in Russia – where Yulia Navalny has become an icon of resilience – or in Iran, where the sight of protesters letting their hair flow freely has become a powerful symbol of resistance and freedom. May we imagine the raised fist in our logo is that of a woman?”
Patrick Chappatte: President, Freedom Cartoonists Foundation
The Kofi Annan Courage in Cartooning Award
Based in Geneva, the Freedom Cartoonists Foundation recognizes the talent and courage of cartoonists working under difficult circumstances. This year’s award jury was chaired by Kenneth Roth, former Executive Director of Human Rights Watch. Cartoonist Patrick Chappatte, President of the Foundation, said of the winners: “Both brilliantly embody the fundamental values of editorial cartooning: talent, freedom of spirit, and courage. With a bit of mischief.”
On behalf of the City of Geneva, Sami Kanaan, Administrative Councillor in charge of culture and digital transition, said: “All the cartoonists competing this year deserve our respect for their talents and the risks they take.”
The Freedom Cartoonists Foundation’s biannual presentation alternates with our own, the Robert Russell Courage in Cartooning Award, named for our founder. In 2022, the Swiss foundation honored Gábor Pápai (Hungary) and Vladimir Kazanavsky (Ukraine). Last year, our award was given to Abecor (Bolivia).
Celebrating World Press Freedom Day & women in cartooning
Today’s event is timed to mark UNESCO’s World Press Freedom Day. The Kofi Annan Courage in Cartooning Award 2024 will be presented by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Dr Shirin Ebadi of Iran, during a public ceremony at the Geneva Graduate Institute, in the presence of CNN’s Chief International Anchor Christiane Amanpour and a host of local and international cartoonists.
In addition to a keynote with Dr Ebadi, Ms Amanpour will chair a special panel discussion on the situation of women editorial cartoonists around the world with Ann Telnaes (USA), Nadia Khiari (Tunisia), and Ms Taneja.
An accompanying international exhibition Cartooning for Freedom, shown on the shores of Lake Geneva until June 2nd, features nearly 60 press cartoons selected by Freedom Cartoonists and in partnership with Cartooning for Peace (France).
Among the guests at today’s event will be Cartoonists Rights’ President, Matt Wuerker and our Executive Director, Terry Anderson.
Nominations for the next Robert Russell Courage in Cartooning Award will open later this year.
