The Free Press Awards 2016 was held  Live on 2 November 2016 and  recognise exceptional work in the field of journalism in hague.

The Dutch journalist Klaas van Dijken has won the Best Report Award for his articles about Sudan. His publications “Darfur war without end” and “And the city Golo screamed” were published in 2015 in the Dutch newspaper Trouw.

A jury and the audience consisting of journalists, media professionals and policymakers Van Dijken chosen as winner on November 2 during Free Press Live Stand up for journalists and justice. the Pakistani journalist Hamid Mir won the ‘Most Resilient journalist Award and’ Fisayo Soyombo from Nigeria won the Newcomer of the Year- Hans Verploeg Award.

Best Report Award is the award for the best foreign documentary that was made with support from the Dutch Postcode Lottery Fund journalists. The prize was first awarded this year and is created by Free Press Unlimited and the National Postcode Lottery.

The fund allows journalists able to make reports on people and the environment in developing countries and conflict zones. Van Dijken received the award from Boudewijn Poelmann, president of the National Postcode Lottery. The award is a prize of 10,000 euros.
Klaas van Dijken is a freelance journalist, videographer and a founding member of Butch & Sundance Media.

He works as a reporter in conflict zones and countries with repressive regimes such as Sudan, South Sudan, Somalia, Afghanistan and Eritrea. His work has been published worldwide in newspapers, magazines, on television and website. The other nominees were Minka Nijhuis and Lennart Hofman.

The Most Resilient Journalist Award was presented to the Pakistani journalist Hamid Mir. He survived several attempts on his life, abductions, arrests and seizures. Despite everything, he remains in Pakistan to continue working as a journalist. He says not to leave the country because he thus would discourage many young Pakistani journalists.

The Most Resilient Journalist Award is a distinguished journalist or media professional who has shown exceptional courage and perseverance to bring the news. The jury, headed by Philippe Remarque nominated alongside Hamid Mir also Colombian journalist Claudia Duque and Mohamed Al-Qadhi from Yemen. Lionel Veer, Dutch ambassador to UNESCO, presented the award. Nigerian journalist ‘Fisayo Soyombo received from the hands of a journalist and documentary filmmaker Fidan Ekiz the Newcomer of the Year- Hans Verploeg Award. This award is recognition for a new talented journalist who has shown with great eloquence to report. The jury, led by Inge Brakman, Soyombo praised for its brave undercoverjounalistiek and innovative approach in a country where journalism corrutie under the rule rather than the exception.

The other nominees for the Newcomer of the Year- Hans Verploeg Award were Mehman Huseynov from Azerbaijan and Tafadzwa Ufumeli from Zimbabwe.

November 2 is the International Day against impunity for crimes against journalists. On this day, Free Press Unlimited Unlimited, in cooperation with The Hague, the Foreign Ministry, the Dutch Postcode Lottery and UNESCO a public event in The Hague for journalists, media professionals and interested called Free Press Live 2016 – Stand up for Journalists and Justice.

Journalists, legislators and policymakers were led by Twan Huys in conversation with each other about the increasing violence against journalists and the lack of prosecution.

Nominations for the awards will be judged by an independent panel of international experts. There are no geographical limitations on eligibility for the prize – entries from any country or region will be considered.