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Ismael Bojórquez Perea and Pavla Holcová Jointly Awarded 2022 Allard Prize

Investigative journalists Ismael Bojórquez Perea and Pavla Holcová were jointly awarded the 2022 Allard Prize for International Integrity at a virtual ceremony held today. The CAD $100,000 Allard Prize for International Integrity is awarded to an individual, movement or organization that has demonstrated exceptional courage and leadership in combating corruption or protecting human rights, especially through promoting transparency, accountability, and the Rule of Law. Each of the co-recipients was awarded a CAD $50,000 prize.   Ismael Bojórquez Perea is an investigative journalist based in Mexico. In 2003, Bojórquez co-founded Ríodoce, a weekly newspaper that reports on drug trafficking, crime, and corruption in Sinaloa. Due to the power of cartels in Sinaloa, Bojórquez and the Ríodoce team came under attack for their honest reporting, which shed light on the pervasive corruption and criminality in the region. The office has been targeted with intimidation, harassment, and violence, and Bojorquez himself was directly targeted by spyware. In 2017, Ríodoce co-founder Javier Valdes Cárdenas was murdered outside the Ríodoce office. Bojórquez vowed to be more cautious while renewing his commitment to investigative journalism. Bojórquez has been an outspoken voice in defense of journalism and press freedom and has criticized the government for failing to protect and defend journalists. “It is a great honour to share this moment with the great journalist Pavla Holcova and with colleagues from the International Consortium of Journalists,” said Bojórquez. “Being here allows us to make this issue [of violence against journalists] more visible, which must continue to be discussed not only in Mexico, but outside our country as well.” Bojórquez expressed that the award must be shared with the entire Ríodoce team and dedicated the Prize “to the journalists who have been murdered and their families who, of course, are still seeking justice, and to the memory of Javier Valdez.” Pavla Holcová’s work as a human rights defender and later as a journalist led her to uncover high-level corruption and criminality across the globe. In 2013, Holcová founded the Czech Centre for Investigative Journalism, an independent news outlet that contributes to other journalism initiatives, including the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP). Together with her colleagues, Holcová has contributed to many ground-breaking investigations, including the Azerbaijani Laundromat and the Paradise Papers. Her work uncovering these criminal networks made her and her colleagues targets for smear campaigns, harassment, and violence. In 2018, Holcová’s colleague, Ján Kuciak, was murdered along with his fiancé while investigating a new story on corrupt dealings between the Slovak government and organized crime entities. Instead of silencing her, Jan’s death renewed Pavla’s resolve and she carried on with his investigation, determined to publish the story and demand justice for Jan. The investigation contributed to the fall of the Slovak government and led to several criminal investigations and charges. “I am the lucky one,” said Pavla Holcová.“Unlike many of my friends and colleagues, I am alive. I am not in prison, I am not formally charged and prosecuted, I am not [in a war zone]”, said Holcová. “I deeply admire and respect my colleagues in countries such as Mexico, Russia, Ukraine, Serbia, Azerbaijan, and many many more.“ “Investigative journalism is a frustrating, depressing, and insecure job. That’s why I rely on my colleagues and people like you…that in case I lose my voice, someone will be there and will provide me with one.” The other finalist, the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) received an honourable mention award in recognition of their work. The Consortium is a network of 280 journalists worldwide who work collectively and contribute to large-scale investigative reports such as the Panama Papers and the FinCen Files, among others. ICIJ’s leadership and innovation in building collaborative journalistic infrastructure supports the development of journalists around the globe. Their investigations have been a catalyst for positive change, supporting the initiation of several criminal investigations and legal reforms. – About the Allard Prize for International Integrity Established in October 2012 and funded by Mr. Peter A. Allard, Q.C. through The Allard Prize Foundation, the Allard Prize for International Integrity is awarded to an individual, group or organization that has demonstrated exceptional leadership and courage in the protection of human rights, while upholding the Rule of Law, promoting transparency and/or preventing or combating corruption. The Allard Prize is administered by The Allard Prize Foundation and steered by the Allard Prize Committee, in consultation with the Allard Prize Advisory Board, which is composed of leaders in the anti-corruption and human rights communities worldwide. Learn more: www.allardprize.org.   Past Winners and Honourees of the Allard Prize 2013 Anna Hazare (India) Global Witness – Honourable Mention (United Kingdom) Sima Samar – Honourable Mention (Afghanistan)   2015 John Githongo – joint winner (Kenya) Rafael Marques de Morais – joint winner (Angola) Indonesia Corruption Watch – Honourable Mention (Indonesia) Sergei Magnitsky – Honourable Mention (Russia)   2017 Khadija Ismayilova (Azerbaijan) Car Wash Task Force (Força Tarefa da Lava Jato) – Honourable Mention (Brazil) Azza Soliman – Honourable Mention (Egypt)   2020 Daphne Caruana Galizia – joint winner (Malta) Howard Wilkinson – joint winner (United Kingdom) The International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG) – Honourable Mention (Guatemala)   The Allard Prize Committee Arvind Ganesan, Director of Human Rights and Business Division, Human Rights Watch Robert W. King, Principal, Westbridge Capital Group Geoff Lyster, Partner, Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP   The Allard Prize Advisory Board   Eva Joly Former Member of the European Parliament; Brussels, Belgium Lawyer at the Paris Bar   Paul Radu Executive Director Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project   Comfort Ero President and CEO International Crisis Group   Kol Preap Member, International Board of Directors Transparency International   Marianne I. Camerer Senior Lecturer, Nelson Mandela School of Public Governance University of Cape Town   Susan Rose-Ackerman Henry R. Luce Professor Emeritus of Jurisprudence Law and Political Science Yale University   Allard Prize Photography Competition The Allard Prize Committee also oversees the Photography Competition, which recognizes photographic excellence reflecting the ideals of the Allard Prize. Each winning entrant receives a

Key Rousseff impeachment vote annulled in Brazil — or maybe not

A Brazilian lawmaker’s surprise announcement Monday sent the country’s scandal-plagued government spinning as a key question looms: Will a Senate vote to impeach President Dilma Rousseff go forward as expected this week? So far, there are more questions than answers. The confusion began Monday when Waldir Maranhao, acting speaker of Brazil’s lower house, said he wanted to annul last month’s vote by the legislative body approving a motion to impeach Rousseff. That vote was the first major legislative step in the impeachment process, paving the way for another vote that was expected to occur this week. Senators were slated to vote Wednesday on whether Rousseff should face an impeachment trial. But it’s not clear what impact the acting speaker’s announcement will have on the high-profile case, which has cast a harsh spotlight on Brazil’s government just months before the country is set to host the Olympics. The president of the Brazilian Senate, Renan Calheiros, subsequently told his chamber that he didn’t “recognize” the motion from the lower house annulling the impeachment vote, and was going to go ahead with the Senate schedule. The vote to impeach Rousseff is planned for Wednesday. Shortly after he made his announcement Calheiros was forced to suspend the Senate session briefly due to shouting and arguing. Legal experts: Decision could be overturned Legal experts told CNN and CNN affiliate TV Record that the annulment of the lower house vote could be overturned by Brazil’s Supreme Court. Lawmakers could also challenge it themselves and demand that it be put to a vote immediately in the lower house, the experts said. But what will happen next is anyone’s guess. “This is completely unprecedented,” said Gustavo Binenbojm, a constitutional lawyer. “But the tendency is to knock it down. Any legislator can challenge it in the plenary. The Supreme Court could issue an injunction. There are a lot of ways to suspend it.” The Order of Attorneys of Brazil said it was “extremely concerned” and would take the appropriate legal steps to fight “the absurd and unacceptable decision.” As for whether Maranhao’s announcement has much chance of sticking, experts said it was unlikely, given that the vote to impeach Rousseff passed the lower house overwhelmingly last month. At least one Senate official said Monday that the announcement wouldn’t affect the Senate’s impeachment proceedings. Maranhao became speaker of the house last week after the Supreme Court suspended the previous speaker for allegedly obstructing corruption investigations and intimidating lawmakers. Rousseff could be suspended for six months Rousseff is accused of breaking budgetary laws by borrowing from state banks to cover a shortfall in the country’s deficit and pay for social programs. If Senators approve a motion for an impeachment trial against her, she’ll be required to leave the presidency for 180 days and defend herself. Brazilian Vice President Michel Temer would temporarily take the reins. Rousseff has publicly defended her record on numerous occasions, describing the impeachment process as a coup and arguing that other Brazilian leaders have used the same accounting approach. “I will fight to survive, not just for my term in office,” Rousseff told CNN’s Christiane Amanpour last month, “but I will fight, because what I am advocating and defending is the democratic principle that governs political life in Brazil.” When Rousseff became Brazil’s first woman president in 2010, she had high approval ratings. She is very unpopular now, predominantly because Brazil is suffering through a recession and a bribery scandal involving state-run oil company Petrobras and dozens of politicians in her party and governing coalition. Rousseff is not implicated in the scandal, but millions of Brazilians are demanding she be removed.   Source: CNN; Written by: Catherine E. Shoichet; Ashley Fantz, Marilia Brocchetto and Shasta Darlington contributed to this report.

Spanish FA president Ángel María Villar Llona arrested on corruption charges

Police in Spain say they have arrested Ángel María Villar Llona, the president of Spain’s football association, Real Federación Española de Fútbol (RFEF). Villar Llona, who is also a senior vice-president at Fifa and Uefa, was arrested on Tuesday morning along with his son and three other federation executives as part of an anti-corruption investigation. Spain’s Guardia Civil said in a statement on Tuesday that Villar Llona, his son Gorka, and three other football officials were detained while raids were carried out at the federation headquarters in Madrid. Police said the other three men who were arrested were Juan Padron, the federation vice president of economic affairs, and both the president and the secretary of the regional federation for Tenerife. Police said the five men were arrested on charges of corruption as part of an investigation into the finances of the federations. Spain’s minister of education, culture and sport, Íñigo Méndez de Vigo, said moments after the raids that “in Spain the laws are enforced, the laws are the same for all, and nobody is above the law”. Uefa said in a statement it “is aware of the reports regarding Mr Villar Llona. We have no comment to make at this time.”   Source: The Guardian