MCCM
RESILIENCE
OUR MEDIA
Distinguished Turkish journalist and freedom of speech advocate is this year’s laureate of the Roosevelt Freedom of Speech Award.
The award for Mr. Önderoğlu is motivated by his tireless and persistent dedication to defend the freedom of speech and expression.
As correspondent for Reporters Without Borders in Turkey and as editor of independent press agency Bianet, a SEENPM member, he has for over 20 years actively followed the court cases of fellow journalists, to support them and report objectively on violations of freedom of the press.
In more than 4,600 articles and columns to date, he has monitored and reported on these violations even when he was faced with repression and imprisonment.
In life and work he is devoted to raising awareness of the necessity of freedom of speech and expression, for men and women, from all kinds of backgrounds, in Turkey and abroad.
The Roosevelt Four Freedoms Awards are presented each year to men and women whose achievements have demonstrated a commitment to those principles which President Roosevelt proclaimed in his historic speech to Congress on January 6, 1941, as essential to democracy: freedom of speech and expression, freedom of worship, freedom from want, freedom from fear.
Other 2018 laureates of the Four Freedoms Award are:
- International Four Freedoms Award: Paris Climate Agreement – Christiana Figueres
- Freedom of Worship Award: Bishop Paride Taban
- Freedom from Want Award: Emmanuel de Merode – Virunga Alliance
- Freedom from Fear Award: Urmila Chaudhary
