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Tough Laugh x Tough Law: Tough Laugh and Cartooning for Peace launch a Podcast to Raise Awareness on Threats to Cartoonists
We all come across great editorial cartoons, whether while reading a magazine, on social media, or watching television. But we rarely think about the author of the cartoon that made us laugh, think or even make us angry. Many cartoonists face economic hardship, harassment, threats and even physical violence for their work. Some are killed. And often, they are not considered equal to journalists.
Written by cartoonist Emanuele del Rosso and Federica Testi, this podcast brings to light the experiences of editorial cartoonists who have encountered threats and attacks.
The first episode tells the story of three cartoonists:
Emad Hajjaj (Jordan): Known for his work in Al Ra'i and the Jordan Times daily newspapers. Hajjaj was arrested in 2020 following the publication of a cartoon related to the agreement between Israel and the United Arab Emirates. The cartoon was published by Al Araby and subsequently posted on the artist’s website and social networks.
Gábor Pápai (Hungary): A Hungarian cartoonist, leading the independent newspaper Népszava in Budapest, Pápai and the newspaper have both faced attacks and legal action from authorities.
Rachita Taneja (India): An Indian cartoonist faced a petition for criminal contempt proceedings after publishing cartoons on her Twitter account.
This initial podcast and the forthcoming episodes are available in English for free on Spotify and other podcast platforms. Two additional episodes are scheduled for release in the coming months, featuring content in French and Spanish.
The three episodes of Tough Laugh x Tough Law were produced with the support of UNESCO’s Global Media Defence Fund. Since 2020, UNESCO and Cartooning for Peace have collaborated to provide legal support to press cartoonists through the Fund, established in 2019 within the framework of the UN Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity. This initiative has supported over 120 projects globally, directly benefiting more than 5,000 journalists, 1,500 lawyers and 200 non-governmental organizations.
