Jineth Bedoya Lima facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jineth Bedoya Lima
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Jineth Bedoya Lima (centre) with Michelle Obama (left) and Hillary Clinton (right) at the 2012 International Women of Courage Awards
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| Born | c. 1974 (age 50–51) Ibague, Tolima
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| Nationality | Colombian |
| Occupation | journalist |
| Organization | El Tiempo |
| Known for | reporting on paramilitary groups, 2000 and 2003 abductions |
| Awards | CJFE International Press Freedom Award (2000) Courage in Journalism Award (2001) International Women of Courage Award (2012) UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize (2020) Golden Pen of Freedom Award (2020) |
Jineth Bedoya Lima (born around 1974) is a brave Colombian journalist. She is known for her important reporting, especially about difficult situations in Colombia. She has received many awards for her courage and dedication to telling the truth. These include the Courage In Journalism Award and the Golden Pen of Freedom award.
Contents
Challenges While Reporting
Jineth Bedoya Lima has faced many challenges because of her work. She was taken against her will in May 2000 and again in August 2003. These experiences show how dangerous it can be for journalists who report on sensitive topics.
May 2000 Incident
In 2000, when Jineth was 26, she worked for a newspaper called El Espectador in Bogota. She was reporting on the conflict in Colombia. She was investigating how weapons were being traded by different groups.
On May 25, she went to a prison to interview a leader. She suspected it might be a trap, so she brought colleagues with her. While waiting to enter the prison, she was separated from her team and disappeared.
Jineth was taken by three men. They drove her far away and harmed her. The attackers said they were sending a message to journalists in Colombia. They also threatened her colleague, who later had to leave the country for safety. Jineth was later found by a taxi driver.
For over ten years, the case was stuck. Jineth then asked the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights for help. In May 2011, a soldier was arrested and admitted to being one of her attackers. In October 2021, a human rights court decided that Colombia was responsible for what happened to Jineth.
August 2003 Incident
In 2001, Jineth started working for another newspaper, El Tiempo. She was in charge of reporting on law enforcement and armed groups. In August 2003, she traveled to a town called Puerto Alvira. She wanted to report on how a rebel group had taken over the town.
When she and her photographer arrived, they were taken by the rebel leader. Their cameras were taken away. Even though the leader said not to talk to them or feed them, the kind women of the town secretly brought them food. The townspeople tried to get help from the Red Cross. A local priest warned them that the journalists were in danger.
After the townspeople told a higher-ranking rebel commander about the situation, Jineth and the photographer were quickly set free. The commander offered to pay them for their lost time and equipment, but they refused. When she returned, Jineth wrote a story about life in the town. She was careful not to put any of the helpful townspeople in danger.
Jineth's Continued Work
In November 2010, Jineth released her book, Vida y muerte del Mono Jojoy. It was about a rebel leader. The book claimed that this leader had ordered an attack on another journalist. Because of this, a news agency linked to the rebels accused Jineth of being a spy. This made press freedom groups worry about her safety.
As of 2025, Jineth continues to work as a journalist for El Tiempo. To keep her safe, the Colombian government has given her three bodyguards and a special bulletproof car.
Awards and Recognition
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Jineth Bedoya Lima has received many important awards for her courage and dedication:
- In 2000, she won the CJFE International Press Freedom Award from Canadian Journalists for Free Expression.
- In 2001, she received the Courage In Journalism Award from the International Women's Media Foundation. This award was big news in Colombia and helped her get hired by El Tiempo. She later said this award helped her keep going after the first attack.
- In 2012, she was given the International Women of Courage Award.
- In October 2016, she was announced as the winner of the Anna Politkovskaya Award. She received this award in London in March 2017.
- In May 2020, Jineth received the UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize.
- In September 2020, she was honored with the Golden Pen of Freedom Award.
These awards show how important Jineth's work is and how much people admire her bravery in reporting the truth.
See also
In Spanish: Jineth Bedoya para niños
