ANNA Politkovskaya, the late Russian journalist who campaigned for human rights and political freedom in her country, will be awarded the 2007 UNESCO/Guillerno Cano World Press Freedom Prize – the first time the award is being bestowed posthumously in its 10-year history.

The announcement was made this week by UNESCO director-general Koichiro Matsuura in accordance with recommendations by the independent international jury of media professionals made up of 14 journalists and editors from across the world.

“Anna Politkovskaya showed incredible courage and stubbornness in chronicling events in Chechnya after the whole world had given up on that conflict. Her dedication and fearless pursuit of the truth set the highest benchmark of journalism, not only for Russia but for the rest of the world. Indeed, Anna’s courage and commitment were so remarkable, that we decided, for the first time, to award the UNESCO/Guillerno Cano World Press Freedom Prize posthumously,” said president Kavi Chongkittavorn, in explaining the jury’s decision.

Born in 1958, Politkovskaya studied at the school of journalism of Moscow State University. She was a columnist for the Novaya Gazeta newspaper. An outspoken campaigner for human rights, Politkovskaya was particularly well known for the hundreds of articles she published on the conflict in Chechnya. Her work was recognised nationally and internationally. Among the prizes she has received for her work are the Golden Pen of Russia award – a Special Diploma of the Jury of the Andrei Sakharov Prize “For the Life Sacrificed to Journalism” – and the Olof Palmer Prize. She was murdered at the entrance of her home in Moscow

last October.

The UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize, in the meanwhile, is awarded annually on World Press Freedom Day (May 3). Created in 1997 by UNESCO’s Executive Board, it honours the work of an individual or organisation defending or promoting freedom of expression anywhere in the world, especially if this action puts the individual’s life at risk. Candidates are proposed by UNESCO Member States, and regional or international organisations that defend and promote freedom of expression.

This year, the 10th anniversary of the Prize, World Press Freedom Day will be celebrated in Medellin, Colombia – the home city of Guillermo Cano, the newspaper publisher after whom the Prize is named. This year also marks the 20th anniversary of the assassination of Cano for denouncing the activities of powerful drug barons in his country. The 2007 Press Freedom Day celebration will focus on the safety

of journalists and the problem of impunity of crimes against journalists.