Demand justice in honor of World Press Freedom Day

Act now on behalf of disappeared Sri Lankan journalist Prageeth Eknaligoda [View in Browser]( [Amnesty International candle logo]( [Demand justice for disappeared journalist »]( Hi {NAME}, In our global fight for human rights, we need to have a free press. Yet, the human right to freedom of expression is far from universal — even in the U.S. Last year, 86 journalists and media workers were killed around the world, including 10 who were covering the war in Ukraine. Dozens more have been disappeared in recent years, including Sri Lankan journalist Prageeth Eknaligoda, who went missing when he left work on the evening of January 24, 2010, just days before a presidential election in Sri Lanka — and after he published an article in favor of the opposition candidate. A police investigation revealed that Prageeth was last seen alive in a military camp. His family is continuing to fight for truth and justice. But without cooperation from the Sri Lankan government, there’s been little progress on his case. Tomorrow is World Press Freedom Day. In honor of Prageeth and in defense of free media everywhere, [will you demand justice and accountability for Prageeth Eknaligoda and his family?]( [Call on the Sri Lankan government to investigate his enforced disappearance and prosecute those responsible for this crime.]( [3 of Prageeth Eknaligoda's family members holding a photo of him]( [Act now]( Prageeth was targeted not only in relation to his work as a journalist and cartoonist, but also because he publicly criticized politicians in the country. When journalists are attacked, jailed, and silenced for doing their job, the rest of the world is left under-informed about threats to human rights. Enforced disappearances violate numerous human rights, including the rights to life, freedom from torture, liberty, and a fair trial. Yet without political will, there can be no pathway to ending this abhorrent practice — in Sri Lanka or anywhere else. [This World Press Freedom Day, will you call for justice and accountability for disappeared journalists, starting with Prageeth Eknaligoda?]( The Sri Lankan authorities have a long history of using enforced disappearances as a tool to silence dissent. Amnesty estimates there have been between 60,000 and 100,000 enforced disappearances in the country since the 1980s. Amnesty is fighting for press freedom in [Hong Kong]( [Algeria]( [Morocco]( [China]( and the [United States]( among many other countries. Together, with the strength of our movement, we can stop the degradation of press freedom — indeed, we must. The fight for human rights depends on it. In honor of World Press Freedom Day, [I hope you’ll join us in demanding justice for Prageeth.]( Sincerely, Jim McDonald Sri Lanka Country Specialist Amnesty International USA P.S. Join us tomorrow, May 3rd at 8 pm ET/ 7 pm CT/ 5 pm PT for Amnesty’s World Press Freedom Day event, Why the Freedom of Press Matters for Shaping a Future of Human Rights. The event is a timely opportunity to understand the challenges journalists face and to reinforce the vital role of a free and independent press in promoting transparency and human rights globally. The virtual panel discussion will include journalists covering Central America, Morocco, the Middle East, and Sri Lanka. [Click here to register for this virtual discussion of the power of press freedom.]( [DONATE NOW]( © 2023 Amnesty International USA 311 W 43rd Street, 7th Floor, New York, NY 10036 | 1-800-AMNESTY Please don't reply to this email. You can send questions to aimember@aiusa.org. We’re so happy you’re here to hear about the most important updates on human rights! If necessary, you can [opt to receive fewer emails]( or [unsubscribe here](. [supporter]