November 2 is the observance of the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists.

UNESCO reports that already this year, over 70 journalists were killed. 9 out of 10 killings go unpunished. 

“Impunity for crimes against journalists affects the core of our freedoms of expression and information. Silencing a journalist has consequences for everyone. We cannot turn a blind eye to impunity. We cannot let their deaths be invisible to society,” UNESCO stressed. 

UNESCO publishes its latest figures on the global impunity rate for journalists’ killings. Although this figure remains unacceptably high, it represents an 9 percentage points reduction in the rate of impunity since 2012 when the United Nations launched its Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists. (Read the report available in multiple languages here.) 

Key figures in the reports:

• Of the 117 journalists killed in 2020-21, 91 or 78% were killed while off the clock, for example, at home, in their vehicles or in the street but not on specific assignment. Several were killed in front of family members, including their children.
• The last year have also seen the number of killed women journalists rising from 6-11% of the total, a worrying trend continuing this year.
• In the 2020-2021 period, 6 journalists were killed while covering protests, riots or demonstrations. This confirms the trend identified in the previous Director-General’s Report which noted a rise in the number of journalists killed in such contexts.

The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 2 November as the ‘International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists’ in its 70th plenary meeting in 2013. The date of the UN day marks the death of Ghislaine Dupont and Claude Verlon, two French journalists killed while reporting in Mali earlier that year. 

10th anniversary of the UN Plan of Action of the Safety of Journalists

Organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Austria, in cooperation with UNESCO and the Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights, a High-Level Conference will commemorate the 10^th year of the UN Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and discuss the issue of impunity on November 3-4. Well-known journalists and freedom of expression activists will speak at the event, including Novaya Gazeta Editor-in-Chief and 2021 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Dmitry Muratov and Colombian Journalist and UNESCO/Guillermo Cano Award Laureate Jineth Bedoya Lima. 

10 years of impact of the UN Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists are highlighted:

• The 10th anniversary is a milestone to Reaffirm, Recommit and Reposition efforts to advance the UN Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity, the first concerted effort within the UN to address attacks and impunity of crimes against journalists.
• 26 UN resolutions on safety of journalists adopted since 2012 by UN General Assembly, UNESCO General Conference and the Human Rights Council.
• A network of UN Focal Points for the Safety of Journalists within UN agencies, funds and programmes and increased number of reports by the Special Rapporteurs on Freedom of Expression.
• An International Coalition of Civil Society Organizations of Safety of Journalists, a Media Freedom Coalition of 50 countries, a Journalism Safety Research Network.
• At least 50 National Protection Mechanisms for the safety of journalists established since 2012.
• More than 24,000 judicial operators from 150 countries and more than 11,500 security forces from 160 countries trained on safety of journalists and freedom of expression. Over 500 lawyers trained in 30 countries and 1,000 cases of legal assistance provided to journalists.

By IAWRT India

Mudri Zhinky is a festival of films from Ukraine made by women filmmakers, held on September 3, 2022 at the India International Centre in New Delhi.

Organized by the International Association of Women in Radio and Television (IAWRT) Chapter India the day-long festival, “Mudri Zhinky: Wise Women” featured 11 short films and a long documentary made by women filmmakers from Ukraine to a packed auditorium.

It was a specially curated package by IAWRT India member Smriti Nevatia. Each film portrayed a different aspect of life in Ukraine.

The event was held in collaboration with Ukrainian Female Film Industry (UFFI).

Three sessions of virtual interaction with the filmmakers were also conducted with the audience members asking questions of the film makers leading to animated discussions on Zoom.

Smriti Nevatia, curator of the festival shared that it was great to have this opportunity to create a package of films by Ukrainian women directors for an Indian audience and hoped that after watching these films viewers would be inspired to hold embattled Ukraine in their thoughts even as they enjoyed these cinematic voices from a country and culture about which they knew so little.

Aaradhana Kohli, Managing Trustee of IAWRT India Chapter who put the festival together was very happy that audiences here in India were able to see for the first time, images other than of war and destruction from Ukraine. Images of everyday life. Of love and loss. Of childish pranks and friendships. Children and families trying to cope with all kinds of ordinary everyday issues. As also existential questions.

The ceremonial lamp was lit by Mrs. Natalia Polikha, the Ukrainian ambassador

to India’s wife, and Ms. Aruna Vasudev, founder of Cinamaya and Osian and also known as the mother of Asian cinema, in a solemn inaugural ceremony in solidarity with the people of Ukraine.

The cultural attaché at the embassy of Ukraine in India Ms. Olena Ivanchuk, Katharina Görig of Goethe Foundation India and many other eminent people, students, and film buffs were seen enjoying and watching the films till the very end.

Sticky notes kept in the foyer for audience feedback and comments were a very popular initiative with many a witty comment left on the board.

To close the festival Aaradhana Kohli thanked everyone for coming to the festival and especially to the Programme Division India International Centre for collaborating with IAWRT Chapter India on the festival.

The workshop takes place with pre-registered participants on Zoom on September 18, 2022 | 8 am Eastern Standard Time

Part of the My Climate Change Story: Cellphone Cinema Workshop

When investigating the impact of climate change, one most often reads articles written either by scientists, journalists, or scholars. The voices of those who actually experience the devastating effects of this phenomenon are most often unheard.

In order to find a way to develop women and girls into streams of consciousness — looking at common themes: Themes emerging from these stories will be highlighted and used to initiate and forge networks, conversations, and collaboration to craft appropriate and relevant solutions. One of the goals is to teach women and girls to use their cell phones to tell their own stories.

The workshops will prepare women globally with an intergenerational lens to go into their communities and use their cell phones to create a 3 to 7-minute vignette that will be uploaded to the IAWRT My Climate Change YouTube channel.

The My Climate Change Story YouTube Channel shall be a laboratory for innovation and solutions that can be shared and emulated globally.

The 2022 Women’s International Film Festival is dedicated to the legacy of Hollywood Black Film Festival Creator TANYA KERSEY.

IAWRT USA President Sheila Dallas-Katzman is part of the Screening Committee.

In person screenings:

July 28, 5pm, CRANFORD THEATER, 25 North Avenue, Cranford, NJ

July 29, 5pm, T. THOMAS FORTUNE CULTURAL CENTER, 94 Drs. James Parker Blvd., Red Bank, NJ

July 30, 12pm, NEWARK MUSEUM OF ART, 49 Washington St., Newark, NJ

August 4, 5pm, ODR STUDIOS, 89 Madison St., Newark, NJ

Virtual screenings:

August 5 – Register: https://bit.ly/3Omv1Lg

August 6

Film programme:

La Receta de la Abuela – Daniela Miranda Perez, Director

The story of Ofelia Moreno, an activist who dedicated 40 years of her life to seeking Truth and Justice for her relatives executed by the Chilean civic-military dictatorship. 11:20 min. – Chile

Adiyah Grace – Brenda Williams, Director Dr. Parks, an African American navigates the discussion of Black Lives Matter discussed in the workplace. 16:58 min. – USA

Under Tension – Mireille Fiévet, Director Keeping the family under the yoke and authority of the father is more and more difficult and dangerous for the balance of the family. 20 min. – France

Precious Cargo: Return to Viet Nam – Janet Paxton Gardner, Director This story explores the complex history of the 1975 Operation Babylift. It was the last chapter of a war that tore this country apart. 28:00 min. – USA/VN

Daughter of A Lost Bird – Brooke Pepion Swaney, Director By sharing a deeply personal experience of inherited cultural trauma, the film opens the door to broader and more complicated conversations about the erasure of Native culture and questions of identity surrounding adoption. 66 min. – USA

A Wake for Mary Murphy – Barrie Dowdall, Director After the sudden death of her mother Nora is left to sort through their unresolved conflicts. During the wake, she is haunted by the ghost of her mother. 6 min. – Ireland

Well Actually – Vlada Knowlton, Director A Black woman software engineer deals with workplace microaggressions from her male colleagues. 9:27 min. – United States

A Stranger at the Funeral – Ana Maria Estrada Cardenas, Director Roberto’s family is surprised by the mystery of the man at the funeral. 15 min. – Peru

Coded Bias – Shalini Kantayya, Director When MIT Media Lab researcher Joy Buolamwini discovers that many facial recognition technologies misclassify women and darker-skinned faces, she is compelled to investigate further and start the Algorithmic Justice League. 90 min. – US/UK/China/South Africa

Under The Same Sky – Alison Chace, Director IWomen around the globe share wisdom in a global pandemic. 14:00 – min. – US/Chinese, Danish, Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Modern Greek, Mongolian, Panjabi

Eureka – MiidaChu, Director A young indentured Chinese prostitute must overcome her toxic dependency on the brothel madam on the eve of the 1885 anti-Chinese riot in Eureka, California. 14:50 min. – United States

Daughters of the Sea – Laura Esteban, Director Compelling testimonies of gender discrimination are brought to the table, highlighting the bravery of the women who work in the Atlantic Ocen, and the long road that still lies ahead to achieve gender equality in our contemporary society. 17:20 min. – Spain

Barbara Lee: Speaking Truth to Power – Abby Ginzbert, Director An intimate and inspiring portrait or Representative Barbara Lee, a champion of civil rights and a steadfast voice for human rights, peace, and economic and racial justice in the U.S. Congress. 83 min. – United States

Trailer for Thalidomide in the USA – C. Jean Grover, Director This trailer previews the documentary which will disclose first-ever seen footage, by and about United States thalidomide survivors, chronicling their decades-long journey to find the truth about distri- bution of the drug in the US, and its devastating effects. 2:28 min – United States

Maid of Honor – Jessica McGaugh, Director As the maid of honor for her best friend’s wedding, Tasha, a steadfast tomboy, has to get fitted for a dress. 6 min. – United States

boju weyín – Bimpe’ Fageyinbo, Director American poet, Bimpé Fageyinbo explores love, heartbreak and grief in this visual poetic memoir featuring selected poems from her 2010 book “so maybe that’s the bee’s weakness.” 26 min. – US

Guarantee of Life – Veronica Couto and Oscar Vazquez, Directors Abortion in the Dominican Republic is totally prohibited and crimi- nalized by law. Guarantee of life collects testimonies from victims of this legislation to support the feminist movement in its struggle to achieve basic rights for women. 43:39 min. – Spain/Dominican Republic

Aya’s Dream – Aleksandra Orbeck, Katalin Hanappi, Directors A young Ju/ hoansi San girl struggles to navigate the society she finds herself in. We follow her spiritual and dreamlike journey of connecting to her ancestors, reconnecting to the identity of her people and rediscovering the essence of life. 13:00 min. – Namibia

Cross – Hyunjin Lee, Director A Korean immigrant mom in the US goes through a journey against her religious faith to embrace her only son who is discovering his sexual orientation. 15:41 min. – United States

Lost From Sight – Olivier vandersleyen, Director Marie Gaillet, a Belgian artist, has been a painter for 70 years and has been severely handicapped for 13 years by AMD. 93 years old, she still continues to give painting classes. 23:41 min. – Belgium

The Racial Politics of Abortion: A Short Film by Dawn Porter – Acclaimed filmmaker Dawn Porter ‘s intimate and personal view of the often-overlooked stories of Black women who seek out reproductive services in America. This documentary gives a snapshot into the lives of Black healthcare providers, mothers and pro-choice and pro-life activists and shows how laws that restrict abortion access impact Black women and their families. 26:10 min – USA

Four Hours a Day – Ayelet Dekel, Director Babies who, according to the kibbutz ideology, were taken from their mothers and raised and lived in children home. Every mother was allowed to hold her child for only “Four Hours a Day.” The mental scars created and left in the hearts of mothers and their children are exposed for the first time in this Documentary . 55:00 min. – Israe

The Dress – Marie Karkashadze, Director A young women under house arrest decides to change her ap- pearance drastically for the last chance and a “perfect date” with someone she loves the most. 8:55 min. – United States

Demolition: Staging A Protest – Grace Uther, Director Powerhouse femme performers Polytoxic are taking down the patri- archy with spectacular force … and everyone is invited to the show. 24:35 min. – Australia

Unseen: How We’re Failing as Parent Caregivers & Why It Matters – Amanda Dyer, Tom Dyer, Directors Through the power of unfiltered, compelling human stories, Unseen cultivates compassion and tangible support for the caregivers in our communities. 46:28 min. – United States

String of Stories – Indrani Nayar-Gall, Director Traumatic life experiences of three women who have been victims of the Devadasi tradition (religious servitude). 1:11:29 – United States/Canada/India

For more information: https://wim-n.com/2022-2/

Flyer: https://wim-n.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Womens-International-Film-Festival-2022-program.pdf

Radhika Khanna, a member of IAWRT India, has devoted three years to developing an online course on digital photography taught comprehensively through a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) on Photojournalism. She intends to reach out to many learners globally, especially women, with engaging and enriching content.

There are no prerequisites or qualifications required. Learners of any age, young, working or retired, can join for free from any part of the world.

The course features both eminent and young Indian photographers, photo historians and curators, including Avani Rai, Avinash Pasricha, Desikan Krishnan, Dinesh Krishnan, Gopinath Sricandane, Gurinder Osan, Madhuraj, Navroze Contractor, Nimit Nigam, Poochi Venkat, Prashant Panjiar, Raghu Rai, Prof. Sabeena Gadihoke, Sanjay Prasad Ganguly, Saravanan Janakarajan, Saumya Khandelwal, Selvaprakash Lakshmanan, Shantanu Krishnan, SR Raghunathan, Tanvi Mishra and Vicky Roy. 

Available on the government of India’s free e-learning portal, SWAYAM, it is a free online course organised by Pondicherry University, India, where Radhika teaches. The course is a great way for photography enthusiasts to stay in touch with their craft and absorb insights from the masters.

The course preview link has a short introductory video and information on the course content.

 To join, click on: https://onlinecourses.swayam2.ac.in/cec22_ge42/preview

Course starts on July 18 and ends on October 31 this year. Enrolment ends on August 31, 2022.