The Geneva-based International Publishers Association (IPA) today launches its call for nominations for the 2024 IPA Prix Voltaire for exemplary courage in upholding the Freedom to Publish and enabling others to exercise their freedom of expression.
Freedom to publish is one of the founding principles of the IPA. Its protection and promotion is one of IPA’s key objectives. In many countries, publishers who provide authors with the means to disseminate their written ideas run the same risks as the writers themselves. Their work requires immense courage and a values-based, altruistic commitment. The Freedom to Publish is far from guaranteed around the world, with daily attempts by governments, extremists or private interests to intimidate, attack, imprison and even kill publishers.
Kristenn Einarsson, Chair of the IPA’s Freedom to Publish Committee said: The pressures on publishers are constantly increasing. The Prix Voltaire is our way of recognizing those brave publishers who continue to publish in the face of pressure and at their own risk. Every year we are inspired by the publishers nominated for the Prix Voltaire and look forward to being inspired again by this year’s nominees.
Previous prize recipients include Mazin Lateef Ali (Iraq, 2023), SameSky Publishing (Thailand, 2022), Lebanese publishing house Dar Al Jadeed (2021), Vietnamese publishing house Liberal Publishing House (2020), Egyptian publisher Khaled Lotfy (2019), Swedish Hong Kong publisher Gui Minhai (2018),Turkish publisher Turhan Günay and publishing house Evrensel (2017), Saudi blogger Raif Badawi (2016) and Belarusian publisher Ihar Lohvinau (2014).
Who nominates whom?
Any individual, group or organization can nominate a publisher, defined as an individual, collective or organization that provides others with the means to share their ideas in written form, including via digital platforms. Nominees will have recently published controversial works amid pressure, threats, intimidation or harassment. Alternatively, they may be publishers with a distinguished record over many years of upholding the freedom to publish and freedom of expression.
Nominations are to be submitted by email using the application form to the IPA at prix-voltaire@internationalpublishers.org
Key dates
The closing date for nominations is 22 March 2024, after which the nine publishing professionals that make up the IPA Freedom to Publish Committee will identify a longlist before agreeing on a shortlist and selecting the 2024 laureate. The IPA 2024 IPA Prix Voltaire ceremony will take place at the 34th International Publishers Congress (3-6 December 2024) in Guadalajara, Mexico.
What’s the prize?
The recipient will receive 10,000 Swiss francs funded by a range of generous sponsors:
Albert Bonniers Förlag (Sweden)
Bonnier Media Deutschland (Germany)
Holtzbrinck (Germany)
Norstedts (Sweden)
Penguin Random House
Samlaget (Norway)
C.H.Beck (Germany)
To find out how you or your organization can support the IPA Prix Voltaire, please contact prix-voltaire@internationalpublishers.org