The Committee to Protect Journalists said it would honor four brave journalists from Belarus, Guatemala, Mozambique and Myanmar with the International press freedom awards 2021.

The press freedom group noted that the four journalists reported during a historically turbulent time, covering protests and political upheaval in their country.

“In the midst of a battle for control of information, these journalists are on the side of the people, covering events, informing communities and ensuring accountability,” said CPJ Executive Director Joel Simon.

“They paid a price, facing violence, harassment, repression and persecution, but refusing to back down. We honor their commitment and their sacrifice and we look forward to celebrating their courage, alongside all those who strongly defend press freedom and independent journalism.

According to a Monday statement by CPJ, the winners include Belarusian Katsiaryna Barysevich, staff correspondent for influential Belarusian media outlet Tut.by; Guatemalan Anastasia Mejía, a radio journalist based in Joyabaj; Mozambican Matías Guente, editor of Canal de Moçambique, an independent weekly investigative newspaper, and his daily digital publication CanalMoz; and Burmese Aye Chan Naing, co-founder, editor and executive director of Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB).

The quartet will be honored on November 18, 2021, at CPJ’s annual awards ceremony, a gala that will be both virtual and in-person.

The event will be chaired by Ford Foundation Chairman Darren Walker and moderated by ABC’s “World News Tonight” anchor David Muir.

PREMIUM TIMES editor Dapo Olorunyomi was among the four winners of the prestigious award at the last edition of the event.

About the winners

Katsiaryna Barysevich (Belarus): In 2020, Barysevich was reporting on pro-democracy protests in the country and published an article about a protester who was allegedly killed by law enforcement, contradicting official statements by authorities. As a result, she passed six months behind bars and faces fines. His colleagues at Tut.by continue to face detentions and harassment.

Anastasia Mejia (Guatemala): She co-founded Xolabaj Radio and Xolabaj TV to cover issues important to the local community, especially issues of concern to indigenous women. In September 2020, the police arrested Mejía on criminal charges related to her coverage of local protests, and she was held in pre-trial detention for five weeks before being released under house arrest. Today, his work as a journalist is severely restricted.

Matias Guente (Mozambique): Over the years, he has faced a myriad of threats for his hard-hitting reporting, including police interrogations, charges of breaching state secrets and conspiracy against the state, and an attempt to kidnapping in 2019. In 2020, unidentified individuals set fire to the outlet’s offices.

Aye Chan Naing (Myanmar): As a pioneer of the exile media movement in Myanmar from the 1990s, he led DVB’s transition from exile-based operations to in-country operations in 2012, despite the ongoing government harassment. In 2021, several DVB journalists were arrested or detained in a harsh crackdown on media and civil society following the military junta’s takeover in February.