Previous Laureates
2015 - Mazen Darwish
Darwish, a lawyer and press freedom advocate, is the president of the Syrian Centre for Media and Freedom of Expression (CMFE), founded in 2004, and one of the founders of The Voice newspaper and syriaview.net, an independent news site banned by the Syrian authorities. In 2011, Darwish established Media Club, the first Syrian magazine about media affairs. He has been detained since February 2012, when he was arrested with colleagues Hani Al-Zitani and Hussein Ghareer.
2014 - Ahmet Şik
An international, independent jury of media professionals has named Turkish investigative journalist Ahmet Şik the winner of the 2014 UNESCO Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize.
2013 - Reeyot Alemu
Imprisoned Ethiopian journalist Reeyot Alemu has been named the winner of the 2013 UNESCO-Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize. Ms Alemu was recommended by an independent international jury of media professionals in recognition of her “exceptional courage, resistance and commitment to freedom of expression.”
2012 - Eynulla Fatullayev
Eynulla Fatullayev, an Azerbaijani journalist and human rights activist, has been named the winner of the 2012 UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize by UNESCO’s Director-General, Irina Bokova. He was nominated for the award by an independent international jury.
2011 - Ahmad Zeidabadi
Imprisoned Iranian journalist Ahmad Zeidabadi is the laureate of this year’s UNESCO Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize. He was selected by an independent international jury of 12 media professionals.
2010 - Mónica González Mujica, Chile
The Chilean journalist, Mónica González Mujica, a heroine of the struggle against dictatorship in her country, has been named laureate of the 2010 UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize.
2009 - Lasantha Wickrematunge, Sri Lanka
The late Sri Lankan journalist and editor of the Lasantha Wickrematunge, who was assassinated on 8 January 2009, has been named laureate of the 2009 UNESCO World Press Freedom Prize.
2008 - Lydia Cacho Ribeiro, Mexico
Lydia Cacho Ribeiro, a freelance reporter based in Cancun, Mexico, has been nominated laureate of the 2008 UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize.
2007 - Anna Politkovskaya, Russia
UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize 2007 has been awarded posthumously to a Russian reporter Anna Politkovskaya.
2006 - May Chidiac, Lebanon
On the recommendation of an international jury of media professionals, UNESCO Director-General has designated Lebanese journalist May Chidiac, winner of the UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize 2006.
2005 - Cheng Yizhong, China
Chinese journalist Cheng Yizhong was named as the laureate of the 2005 UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize.
2004 - Raúl Rivero, Cuba
The jailed Cuban journalist Raúl Rivero Castañeda was awarded the UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize for 2004.
2003 - Amira Hass, Israel
Israeli journalist Amira Hass was named as the laureate of the 2003 UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize.
2002 - Geoffrey Nyarota, Zimbabwe
Zimbabwean editor Geoffrey Nyarota was named as the laureate of the 2002 UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize.
2001 - U Win Tin, Myanmar
Former editor of the daily Hanthawati newspaper in Myanmar, vice-chair of Myanmar's Writers' Association and a founder of the National League for Democracy, U Win Tin has been nominated laureate of the 2001 UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize.
2000 - Nizar Nayyouf, Syria
The 2000 UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize was awarded on 17 March 2000 to Syrian journalist Nizar Nayyouf.
1999 - Jesus Blancornelas, Mexico
Jesus Blancornelas of Mexico who survived a 1997 assassination attempt for his exposés on corruption and drug trafficking in Mexico was chosen to receive the 1999 UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize.
1998 - Christina Anyanwu, Nigeria
The 1998 UNESCO / Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize was awarded to the Nigerian journalist Christina Anyanwu, publisher and editor in chief of "The Sunday Magazine" (Lagos, Nigeria).
1997 - Gao Yu, China
On 21 March 1997, the UNESCO / Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize was awarded by an independent international jury to the Chinese journalist Gao Yu.
