(NEW YORK)—The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), Freedom of the Press Foundation, PEN America, and Reporters Committee for a Free Press (RCFP) today strongly condemned Russia’s designation of the International Women’s Media Foundation (IWMF) as an “undesirable” organization, a flagrant act of retaliation against those who defend press freedom and support independent voices. The designation effectively makes the IWMF’s work unlawful in Russia, exposing anyone affiliated with it there to legal risk. According to the IWMF, the reasons for the designation have not been made clear.
CPJ, Freedom of the Press Foundation, PEN America, and RCFP issued the following statement:
“This tactic is a blatant effort to intimidate both independent journalists and civil society and to sever the solidarity that sustains reporters who continue to work under growing threat in Russia. By targeting a nonprofit organization that helps protect and amplify journalists’ voices, the Russian government is making clear its persistent contempt for press freedom and human rights. We stand in solidarity with our colleagues at the IWMF and call on the Russian government to reverse this designation.”
CPJ, Freedom of the Press Foundation, IWMF, PEN America, and RCFP are the five founding members of the Journalist Assistance Network, which provides legal and safety resources and training to journalists and newsrooms in the United States.
About PEN America
PEN America stands at the intersection of literature and human rights to protect free expression in the United States and worldwide. We champion the freedom to write, recognizing the power of the word to transform the world. Our mission is to unite writers and their allies to celebrate creative expression and defend the liberties that make it possible. Learn more at PEN.org
Contact: Suzanne Trimel, [email protected], (201) 247-5057