Source: Human Rights Solidarity
May 2nd, 2025, in commemoration of World Press Freedom Day – The Justice Wall
This event was part of our ongoing campaign to spotlight the plight of imprisoned journalists and advocate for global press freedom.
Journalists today confront escalating dangers, including violence, imprisonment, and harassment. UNESCO’s 2022-2023 report reveals that over 600 journalists have been killed in the past decade, with the majority of cases remaining unresolved. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), at least 65 media workers lost their lives in conflict zones in 2023 alone.
In an age of rampant digital disinformation, a free press is more critical than ever—providing verified, fact-based reporting that upholds democracy. World Press Freedom Day underscores the importance of media literacy, empowering the public to distinguish credible sources from misinformation. It also highlights regions where press freedom is under severe threat. The 2024 World Press Freedom Index by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) ranks 180 countries, with Eritrea, North Korea, and Syria at the bottom due to extreme media repression. CPJ reports that 320 journalists were imprisoned globally in 2023, with China, Myanmar, and Belarus among the worst offenders.
“World Press Freedom Day serves as a crucial reminder: Journalism is the foundation of democracy and sustainable development. We must protect media professionals from all forms of repression.”
No longer able to remain silent in the face of these injustices, we have organized a public gathering to amplify global calls for justice demanding freedom for wrongfully imprisoned media workers and shuttered news organizations.
Human Rights Solidarity, a London-based human rights charity founded in late 2022, is at the forefront of this initiative. Comprising journalists, lawyers, and over 200 dedicated volunteers, the organization champions press freedom, freedom of expression, and refugee integration, working closely with diaspora communities.
On May 2nd, ahead of World Press Freedom Day, the Justice Wall was unveiled outside The Guardian headquarters during a public demonstration. The Justice Wall was a powerful five meter-long banner honoring 11 imprisoned journalists from around the world. At its center: Dawit Isaak, the world’s longest- imprisoned journalist, detained for his unwavering belief in truth and freedom. “He is not just Eritrea’s prisoner. He is the world’s responsibility.”
Some of the other imprisoned journalists included in the banner were:
- Reza Valizadeh (Iran) – Jailed for 816 days
- Maria Ponomarenko (Russia) – Jailed for 1106 days
- Pham Doan Trang (Vietnam) – Jailed for 1669 days
- José Rubén Zamora (Guatemala) – Jailed for 1008 days
- Katsiaryna Andreyeva (Belarus) – Jailed for 1629 days
This powerful initiative was co-sponsored by the Edelstam Foundation, the Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights (RWCHR), Eritrea Focus, and the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI).
Below, you’ll find links to the event’s press statement and related links with key takeaways:
Press statements
https://x.com/SolidarityHR/status/1918665657014485260
https://x.com/SolidarityHR/status/1918348127267864791
Press statements by our co-sponsors:
https://mailchi.mp/int-bar/world-press-freedom-day-2025-ibahri-honours-dawit-isaak-with-justice-wall-in-london
https://www.edelstam.org/world-press-freedom-day-2025/
https://www.ibanet.org/World-Press-Freedom-Day-Initiative-in-London-Dawit-Isaak
https://eritrea-focus.org/justice-wall-in-london-calls-on-the-world-to-sayhis-name-dawit-isaak/
https://www.raoulwallenbergcentre.org/en/news/2025-05-01
https://hostageaid.org/press-release-worlds-longest-imprisoned-journalist-honored-on-the-eve-of-world-press-freedom-day/
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1854249408740243&ref=sharing
Just this year, the Justice Wall campaign achieved notable visibility through well-attended demonstrations at two key European locations: facing the Council of Europe in Strasbourg and opposite 10 Downing Street in London. We have included some compelling examples below:
Engagement, participation, and amplifying voices are what we value most. From Human Rights Day to Endangered Lawyers Day and Press Freedom Day, we take these occasions seriously and draw positive energy from people across all walks of life. We maximize impact even with limited time.
This principle guided our choice of The Guardian’s headquarters on May 2nd – a symbolic location to spark international debate and solidarity among journalists. We believe The Guardian’s coverage can help pressure authoritarian regimes like Eritrea’s. Our goal isn’t to
criticize The Guardian but to stand with independent media. In fact, The Guardian’s and King’s Place security teams supported us from the start, even accommodating our scaled down 5-meter Justice Wall (versus the usual 15 meters), which proved equally impactful. Credit goes to our artists their work resonated powerfully, and our campaign gained significant traction on social media.
The event drew key media representatives from Eritrea, Turkey, and beyond. We received enthusiastic feedback from Guardian editors some came down to show support, even giving interviews. Before the event, we delivered flowers and a thank-you letter to Chief Editor Katherine Viner; later, Deputy Chief Owen Gibson personally congratulated us on behalf of the organisation.
It was a day of meaningful dialogue: academic discussions on Magnitsky sanctions, jailed journalists, and effective measures; proposals for interparliamentary alliances; and interviews with BBC Tigrinya.
Despite modest foot traffic, we achieved our desired engagement, securing recognition from influential blogs and newspapers:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qc7MrmS_v-k
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Vt4rhczCo9b6pPe08-Ffk6iTZSsVtwLw/view
https://www.tr724.com/the-guardianin-onunde-basin-ozgurlugu-eylemi-tutsak-gazeteciler-unutulmadi/#google_vignette
http://www.samanyoluhaber.com/hrs-gonullulerinden-dunya-basin-ozgurlugu-gununde-anlamli-hareket-haberi/1477008/#google_vignette
https://aktifhaber.com/gundem/tutsak-gazeteciler-unutulmadi-the-guardianin-onunde-basin-ozgurlugu-eylemi.html
https://www.miragenews.com/ibahri-honours-dawit-isaak-with-justice-wall-1453791/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g85LNopWtcQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5I-f4b2parA
As mentioned, Dawit Isaak was central to our campaign. Our press statement featured respected figures like Prof. Irwin Cotler, former Minister of Justice of Canada, and Baroness Helena Kennedy. UNESCO’s official platform published our event, boosting visibility and morale. At the Justice Wall, we conducted numerous on-site interviews to amplify diverse voices:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhN2ztpWafA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhBkwWnre9Y
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEeN2Y1smHU
https://youtu.be/nWkdJ_-pJJg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjjBb4965Gs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvi6o4LkMRY
Pre-event outreach was robust: announcements circulated in key journalists’ WhatsApp groups, and we emailed thousands including UN rapporteurs and diplomats to widen participation.
Given the gravity of this issue, we would be honoured to explore with you the possibility of organising a dedicated side event in collaboration with like- minded organisations to highlight the case of Dawit Isaak and other imprisoned journalists, and to discuss concrete solutions, including legal and diplomatic avenues for their release.
