Columbia Global Paris Centre, CPJ and AFP to Host “Voices in Journalism: Fighting Impunity with Christina Assi”, a Panel Discussion in Paris on November 6
The Columbia Global Paris Centre, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), and AFP are co-hosting a panel discussion titled “Voices in Journalism: Fighting Impunity with Christina Assi”.
Three years after an Israeli strike hit a group of seven clearly identifiable journalists in southern Lebanon on 13 October 2023, AFP photojournalist Christina Assi is still asking who gave the order.
Christina was seriously wounded in the double-tap strike, which killed her best friend, Reuters journalist Issam Abdallah, and led to the amputation of her right leg. Her AFP colleague Dylan Collins was also injured. Five independent investigations, including one by AFP, found no sign of fighters or military activity at the site before the journalists were hit by a 120mm tank shell. Yet no one has been held accountable, and Israel’s ambassador to France described the attack as a “mistake” earlier this year.
The event will start with testimony from Christina, recipient of the CPJ’s 2026 International Press Freedom Award, followed by the screening of exclusive footage of the attack.
Her testimony will be followed by a panel discussion featuring Leopoldo Maldonado Gutiérrez, U.N. Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression (participating virtually), and Tom Gibson, CPJ’s EU Deputy Advocacy Director. The discussion will be moderated by Phil Chetwynd, AFP’s Global News Director.
The event is open to all and can be attended either in person in Paris or online:
Friday, 6 November 2026, from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. (CET)
- In person: Reid Hall, 4 rue de Chevreuse, 75006 Paris
- Online: via Zoom
Registration is free but mandatory: