Dear members the Catalan Dignity Commission & guests, Thank you so much for honouring my son Julian, with this deeply meaningful award & event. I wish he was free from the brutal political persecution which prevents him from being here with you today The Dignity Award recognizes the essence of Julians belief & practice, that a fierce, free, independent & truthful media holding governments & other powerful entities accountable to the people, is the most powerful protection we have to defend freedom & democracy. Julians reportage of the 2017 Catalan independence referendum is perhaps my personal favourite amonst his journalistic exposes Like many others globally, I was fully engaged & glued to his ongoing hourly, gripping updates & videos exposing the brutal crackdown by Spain & Spanish police on peaceful Catalan voters & their political representatives. Julian corrected much media misreporting of the unfolding crisis by giving facts & context to the historical struggle for Catalan independence He did not take sides re sucession, only that democratic processes should be respected & that the truth be revealed. When the Spanish Govt disabled Catalan voting apps, Julian responded by instructing Catalan voters how to use other apps to ensure they could participate in the democratic process. Julian was determined to continue his work despite being detained without charge by the UK within the London Ecuador Embassy where he had been granted political asylum against US threats for his truthful journalism Julians coverage of the Catalan Independence referendum was exciting, important, contemporary journalism covering an exiting, important, contemporary historical event. Courage and the defence of democracy and freedom emanated from both and inspired millions globally. It is fitting that they will both be remembered together in this 2019 Dignity Award Once again many thanks Christine Assange