UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize 2025

 Deadline Date: February 15, 2025

 Donor Name: United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)

 Grant Size: $10,000 to $100,000

https://www.unesco.org/en/prizes/cano

The UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize honours a person, organization or institution that has made an outstanding contribution to the defence and, or promotion of press freedom anywhere in the world, and especially when this has been achieved in the face of danger.

The objective of the Prize is in conformity with UNESCO’s policies and is related to the program of the Organization in the field of communication and information and, more specifically, to the priority given to promoting an enabling environment for freedom of expression and freedom of information.

Funding Information

• The value of the Prize shall be of a minimum of 25,000 USD
• The Prize shall be entitled “UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize”.
• The Prize shall be funded by voluntary contributions from States, international agencies and organizations, as well as other entities and shall consist of recurrent payments to be deposited in a special account opened for that purpose in accordance with the Financial Regulations of UNESCO.
• Determined by the Director-General in consultation with the donors on the basis of the contributions received, the interest on the sum deposited in the special account in accordance with the Financial Regulations of UNESCO, and the charges to be borne by the account for the cost of administering the Prize.
• The prize also consists of a certificate and an object symbolizing the award and granted to the prize winner.
• All funds received and the interest accrued thereon shall be kept in a special interest-bearing account for the Prize.
• The full staff support and operating/management costs of the Prize, including all costs relating to the award ceremony and public information activities shall be fully covered by the Cano Foundation and other donors. To this end, the Director-General shall determine a mandatory overhead cost amount to be applied and charged against the funds in the Special Account, which is to be established under the Financial Regulations for the Prize.
• The Prize shall be awarded yearly.

Eligibility Criteria

• Candidates shall have made a significant contribution to press freedom anywhere in the world representing all types of media including digital media.
• Prizes may be conferred upon individuals, institutions, other entities or non-governmental organizations.

Selection Criteria

• The prize winner shall be selected by the Director-General of UNESCO on the basis of the assessments and recommendations made to him/her by a jury.

Application Requirements

• Each nomination shall be accompanied by a written recommendation, which shall include, in English or French, inter alia:
  • A description of the candidate’s background and achievements;
  • The candidate’s contributions of major importance to the promotion of freedom of the press, submitted to the Jury for consideration;
  • A definition of the candidate’s contribution to the Prize’s objectives.
  • A high-resolution photo portrait of the candidate.

For more information, visit UNESCO.