For defenders of writers in peril.
The Marie-Ange Garrigue Prize is awarded annually to a Canadian citizen or permanent resident who in the past year has provided significant help to a writer or journalist outside Canada who has faced threats, violence, harassment, or imprisonment for reporting or commenting on issues of public interest.
Introduced in 2022 and valued at $2000, it was named in memory of Mary-Ange Garrigue, a citizen of Canada and France, who practiced law in Canada for many years and died in France in January 2022. She had a deep commitment to independent opinion fearlessly expressed. This is the second PEN prize funded by Cynthia Wine and Philip Slayton in support of defenders of writers in peril.
In the fall of every year, PEN holds an awards ceremony in Toronto to honour and recognize the valuable assistance the recipient provided.
Who may I nominate?
Nominees for this prize may be any individual Canadian citizen or permanent resident, or any Canadian organization, who has provided significant help to a writer or journalist outside Canada facing threats, violence, harassment or imprisonment for reporting or commenting on issues of public interest. The help rendered may have been given through personal action, direct aid, advocacy, mobilization of help, funding, or via intervention with governments or third parties.
Nominations are currently closed, and will reopen in early 2025.
2024 Prize Recipients: Robina Aryubwal and Journalists for Human Rights
Journalists for Human Rights is a media development organization which mobilizes media to spread human rights awareness. Robina Aryubwal is a program delivery specialist and women’s rights activist. She worked with JHR as a program coordinator specializing in support and advocacy for Afghan refugees.
Together, the two were jointly awarded the Marie-Ange Garrieu Prize for having relocated, referred and resettled more than 500 at-risk journalists, human rights defenders, fixers, interpreters, educators and their families from Afghanistan.
Jury citation
Journalists for Human Rights (JHR) is a Canadian media development organization that trains and empowers journalists in Canada and around the globe to report on human rights issues in their local communities. Given the urgent situation for local journalists in the aftermath of the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan in 2021, JHR initiated an urgent evacuation effort that has thus far led to the evacuation, relocation, and resettlement of over 500 at-risk journalists, many of them to Canada. Critical to this effort was Robina Aryubwal, a current women’s rights activist, and former Afghan refugee herself. While working with JHR, Robina was a lifeline for the journalists and families being assisted by JHR. Robina was in constant communication with those in exile, supporting them in innumerable ways, including with securing documentation, counseling, safe houses, and sometimes just providing a comforting ear. Robina’s compassionate efforts have been recognized and personally thanked by many Afghan journalists now residing in Canada and other safe countries.
Past Winners
2023 | Joan Leishman
2022 | Mariam Al Zier (inaugural winner)