In this third extract of his forthcoming book 'The Fifth Quarter Century - The International Publishers Association 1996-2021', IPA Past President looks back at the period 2004-2008.

Anna Politkovskaya and Hrant Dink

Publisher Turhan Günay and publishing house Evrensel, both from Turkey, have been named joint recipients of the 2017 International Publishers Association (IPA) prize for courage in upholding the freedom to publish, the IPA Prix Voltaire.

On the occasion of the first World Expression Forum, WEXFO, being held in Lillehammer, the International Publishers Association has announced the shortlist for the 2022 IPA Prix Voltaire, celebrating publishers from Afghanistan/Canada, Guatemala, India, Thailand and Ukraine. The award ceremony will be held at the 33^rd International Publishers Congress in Jakarta on 12 November.

Frankfurt Book Fair, Weltempfang Stage, Friday October 12th 10:30am-11:30am

• Laureate to address ceremony at Guadalajara International Book Fair on 30 November.
• Mexican journalist, Jorge Ramos, to give keynote at Prix Voltaire ceremony
• Freedom to Publish Seminar to feature Raul Figueroa Sarti, a Guatemalan publisher shortlisted for the Prix Voltaire, and Cervantes prize-winning author Sergio Ramirez.
• IPA also announces Prix Voltaire Special Award for Chinese writer, Li Liqun, who took his own life in July 2021.

The International Publishers Association (IPA) is delighted to confirm that the ceremony for 2021 IPA Prix Voltaire will take place on 1 December at the 35th Feria Internacional del Libro de Guadalajara. The prize recongizes exemplary courage in upholding the Freedom to Publish and enabling others to exercise their freedom of expression. Nominations close on 20 June 2021.

Freedom to publish, diversity in the book industry, European Accessibility Act and Global Publishing Industry Report 2020 / With: Prix Voltaire laureate 2020 and speakers from IPA, WIPO, FEP, European Commission and Amnesty International.

IPA is holding a full schedule of Committee meetings as well as open and public events around the 33rd International Publishers Congress in Lillehammer, freedom to publish, copyright enforcement and educational publishing. 

• missing Hong Kong/Swedish publisher Gui Minhai selected for award that supports defenders of freedom to publish.
• Award to be presented at International Publishers Congress in New Delhi on 12 February

IPA expresses its steadfast support for Gui Minhai and his family, and calls on Sweden, the EU and the international community to renew their efforts to secure Gui Minhai’s release. Gui Minhai has paid a high price for publishing books and his treatment is meant to scare others into silence. We salute all those brave publishers globally who refuse to be intimidated and continue to exercise their freedom to publish.

The 31st International Publishers Congress, 9 -12 April, 2016, gathered more than 220 delegates from 41 countries in London's majestic Olympia Conference Centre. This was the second time the Congress had taken place in the UK capital, but the first time it had run parallel to The London Book Fair.

 IPA has a jam packed programme at London Book Fair 2023 whether through the official programming or our own Committees. See some of the confirmed events below.

The international Publishers Association has contributed 1,000CHF to kickstart an international appeal for support as the lockdown in Bangladesh puts the legacy Faisal Arefin Dipan at risk. His widow, Razia Rahman Joly, carried on his publishing house and opened a bookshop, Dipanpur, in his memory. 3 months of lockdown and no income mean eviction and closure are now looming.

The International Publishers Association today launches its call for nominations for the 2017 IPA Prix Voltaire — a unique award in celebrating the freedom to publish, without which many writers would be unable to exercise their freedom of expression.

Mr. Thanapol Eawsakul, the editor-in-chief of Same Sky Books (Fah Diew Kan) was arrested on 30th June 2022. The Prix Voltaire shortlisted publisher was subsequently released on bail but IPA remains concerned about the future of the serially harassed publisher and his prospects for a fair and open trial.

The International Publishers Association is extremely concerned by reports in the Guardian, Global Times and The Wall Street Journal among others that books by prominent protester, Joshua Wong, and Hong Kong politician, Tanya Chan, have been removed from public libraries and bookshops as the new Chinese Security Law is implemented in Hong Kong. 

IPA will keep the spotlight on the Prix Voltaire in the coming months partnering an event at Göteborg Book Fair in September and with our own panel at Frankfurt Book Fair in October. 

On 1 July, Victoria Amelina, Ukrainian author and war crimes documentarist, succumbed to wounds suffered during the bombing of Kramatorsk on Tuesday 27 June.