On the occasion of World Press Freedom Day, various international organizations have come together to amplify their call to #FreeFrenchieMaeCumpio. She has been accused of financing terrorism and has remained in detention for six years.
Baturu and International Association of Women in Radio and Television (IAWRT) International have released a two-panel, comic-style illustration portraying Frenchie Mae Cumpio. This initiative is in collaboration with Reporters Without Borders (RSF), Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), Free Press Unlimited (FPU), National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP), Altermidya, and Human Rights Now.
Artists: Jeune Arambulo (Philippines) and Krittaporn Mahaweerarat (Thailand)
By Jola Diones-Mamangun
IAWRT Philippines
May 3, 2026
A
https://iawrt.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Defend-Press-Freedom-1.jpg16001081Secretariathttp://iawrt.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/logo.pngSecretariat2026-05-03 11:37:322026-05-05 11:06:15Comic Poster for Frenchie Mae Cumpio
Birgitte Jallov (Denmark) is a media and communication specialist with 40+ years’ experience in women’s and community media worldwide. She is Director of Empowerhouse and a long-time advocate for people’s communication and women’s voices. She is also a writer and podcast host, recently producing a 16-episode series sharing women’s community media stories globally.
By Nankwanga Eunice Kasirye
May 3, 2026
As the world marks World Press Freedom Day today, the International Association of Women in Radio and Television (IAWRT) has launched a global solidarity campaign to amplify the voices of women journalists reporting from the frontlines of war, conflict, and political unrest.
The initiative aligns with UNESCO’s 2026 theme, “Shaping a Future at Peace: Promoting Press Freedom for Human Rights, Development and Security,” and brings renewed attention to the risks faced by women in the media, particularly in high-risk and conflict-affected environments.
IAWRT says the campaign aims to highlight the lived realities of women journalists who continue to report under dangerous conditions, often at great personal cost. While press freedom is increasingly under threat worldwide, women journalists face additional challenges, including gender-based violence, intimidation, economic insecurity, and systemic silencing.
From Palestine to Afghanistan, Iraq to Sudan, and Somalia to Bangladesh, women journalists continue to work in some of the world’s most volatile regions. Many have been threatened, detained, or killed for their reporting. Advocates warn that their absence not only reflects a human cost but also a critical gap in global storytelling and accountability.
At the centre of the campaign is a video message series featuring women journalists from across IAWRT’s international network. Through short recordings, participants share their experiences, challenges, and motivations for continuing their work despite the risks.
The videos are being released across IAWRT’s digital platforms, creating a rolling narrative of courage, resistance, and solidarity in the lead-up to and on World Press Freedom Day.
According to IAWRT, the campaign also seeks to strengthen global solidarity among media professionals and encourage wider public engagement through coordinated social media outreach.
The initiative will culminate in a digital archive of testimonies, offering a lasting record of the resilience and determination of women journalists worldwide. As World Press Freedom Day is commemorated globally, IAWRT is calling for renewed commitment to the protection of journalists and the defence of press freedom.
“Now more than ever, the global community must stand together to protect journalists and ensure that truth continues to prevail,” the organisation said.
Ichchha Gurung is a journalist and Chapter Head of IAWRT Nepal.
Nankwanga Eunice Kasirye, IAWRT Uganda Chapter Head
Kreshma Fakhri is an Afghan journalist with over a decade of experience reporting on human rights, gender, and conflict-related issues. She has worked closely with Afghan women journalists, leading training programs and supporting emerging voices in challenging environments. Currently in exile, she continues to amplify the voices of Afghan women journalists and advocate for press freedom and global solidarity.
Sandhya Thapa is a journalist and communication lecturer. She is IAWRT Nepal Deputy Head
Najiba Ayubi is a journalist and Chapter Head of IAWRT Afghanistan.
Janess Ann J. Ellao is the chapter head of the International Association of Women in Radio and Television – Philippines,, She is a journalist and journalism teacher at the Asian Institute of Journalism and Communication and Mirriam College.
Violet Gonda is an independent journalist from Zimbabwe, and documentary producer.
Sheila Dallas-Katzman: President, IAWRT USA. Radio broadcaster, applied theatre practitioner, sociodramatist, and Huract-certified coach; co-chair of NYC for CEDAW. Deeply committed to the rights of all people, including women of all walks of life, with a focus on ensuring those at the margins have meaningful access and opportunity.
Awaz Salim and Lava Kurda are both journalists from IAWRT Iraq-Kurdistan and Salim is the Chapter Head.
https://iawrt.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Defend-Press-Freedom-e1777783564813.jpg4550Secretariathttp://iawrt.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/logo.pngSecretariat2026-05-03 04:40:292026-05-05 11:05:28IAWRT Launches Global Solidarity Campaign for World Press Freedom Day 2026
On this World Press Freedom Day, we stand in solidarity with the women and men who have turned the pursuit of truth into a lifelong mission, often at the highest personal cost. For those of us in the media, this day is a reminder that our work is never for ourselves—it is a service to the people.
We continue to demand the immediate release of Frenchie Mae Cumpio. Her ongoing incarceration and the recent January verdict are not just an attack on one journalist; they are an attempt to paralyze the community press. A survivor of storms and a witness to history, Frenchie Mae belongs in the newsroom, not a prison cell. We call on the Philippine government to end this judicial harassment and recognize that journalism is not a crime.
This year, our hearts are heavy as we remember two brilliant lights who were gone too soon. We honor their legacies by continuing the work they started.
• RJ Ledesma: A community journalist and regional coordinator for Altermidya, RJ was killed just last month in Negros Occidental. RJ was a champion of the rural poor, choosing to immerse rather than just cover. Through work with the alternative press, RJ lived alongside farmers and laborers, documenting the impacts of so-called development projects on their lands.
• Dempsey Reyes: We also mourn the passing of Philippine Daily Inquirer reporter Dempsey Reyes, who left us on April 26. At only 29, his colleagues see Dempsey as a “bright light” in the newsroom and had an instinct for the truth that cut through the noise.
We, the women in media, remain undeterred. We fight for press freedom because it is the bedrock of a just society.
Reference:
Executive Board
International Association of Women in Radio and Television – Philippines
For queries:
Janess Ellao
09157971838
https://iawrt.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Free_Frenchie_3-e1777780112444.jpeg206300Secretariathttp://iawrt.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/logo.pngSecretariat2026-05-03 03:17:132026-05-03 05:09:48On World Press Freedom Day
