Maria Ressa
2021 Nobel Peace Prize Winner
Maria Ressa is an award-winning Filipino-American journalist, author and Nobel Peace laureate known for her brave and tireless work. She is committed to using journalism as a tool to hold authorities accountable.
"She represents the battle for the truth in the digital age"
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Maria co-founded Rappler, an independent social news network at the forefront of fighting for freedom of the press in the Philippines. She has won countless awards, including an Emmy, the Golden Pen of Freedom Award from the World Association of Newspapers, and the UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize. She was co-awarded the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize for protecting free speech, which is necessary for democracy and enduring peace. As a staunch defender of free speech and a critic of influential figures trying to silence their citizens, she has been a vocal critic of President Rodrigo Duterte and his crimes against human rights. As a result, his government has targeted her with a series of legal challenges and threats, culminating with her appearance before the Philippines' National Bureau of Investigation concerning cyber libel charges.
WHAT she OFFERS YOU
Known for her hard-hitting investigations into corruption and human rights abuses, Maria has faced threats and intimidation from influential people worldwide. She never backs down from confrontation or conflict and is internationally recognised as a true champion of free speech and democracy.