Profiling two journalists under threat in Peru, exposing abuse, corruption and illegal commerce and discussing global threats against media
About this event
This event organised by Irish PEN/PEN na hÉireann will profile two journalists under threat in Peru.
Paola Ugaz, recipient of a Courage in Journalism Award 2021, (International Women’s Media Foundation), is an investigative journalist who continues to display extraordinary courage in exposing the abuse and corruption within the powerful religious organisation, Sodalitium.
Dan Collyns, a multimedia journalist and filmmaker, covers the Andean region for The Guardian newspaper, CGTN America television and the BBC. A recent project is the film The Adventures Of Wonder Woman, a documentary investigation into illegal gold mining in Peru’s Amazon, made with colleagues for The Thomson Reuters Foundation.
In November 2021, the International Women’s Media Foundation in Washington selected Paola as a recipient of the Courage in Journalism award for her fearless investigations into the Peruvian religious organisation, Sodalicio de Vida Cristiana, known in English as Sodalitium. The all-Ireland organisation, IRISH PEN/PEN NA hÉIREANN, is proud to support the work of Paola Ugaz, who continues to highlight corruption in her native Peru.
Paola Ugaz began investigating the physical, sexual, and psychological abuses within Sodalitium, as far back as 2010. In 2015, she co-authored the book Half Monks, Half Soldiers, along with her colleague, Pedro Salinas. As a result, Paola Ugaz has received death threats and has been subjected to continuous legal harassment and defamation lawsuits, all designed to silence her investigations into this powerful organisation. But she refuses to be silenced. Such harassment, Paola Ugaz claims, only serves to make her a better journalist. She says it is her duty to publish. She has recently completed a second work, exposing financial corruption within Sodalitium. (Working Title: Greed; The Deadly Sin). Paola is also the correspondent for the Spanish newspaper, ABC and also conducts interviews for the Peruvian newspaper “La Republica”.
Dan Collyns is a multimedia journalist and filmmaker also based in Lima, Peru. He covers the Andean region as a correspondent for The Guardian newspaper, CGTN America television and the BBC. He reports on everything from politics to culture but focuses on the environment and human rights. One of Dan’s recent projects is the film The Adventures Of Wonder Woman, a documentary investigation into illegal gold mining in Peru’s Amazon, made with colleagues for The Thomson Reuters Foundation.
Paola Ugaz and Dan Collyns will discuss the challenges facing journalists today – not just in Peru, but all around the world.
In addition, to the Q &A, Robin Wilson and Patricia Devlin will contribute to the event.
This event will be introduced by Catherine Dunne, Secretary of Irish PEN/PEN na hÉireann.
Organised with Irish PEN/PEN na hÉireann
