VANCOUVER, CANADA – ‘Zan Times’ media from Afghanistan clinched the Human Rights Media Award for its reporting on the tragic suicides of women and girls living under Taliban rule.
On the occasion of World Press Freedom Day, the Human Rights Press Awards in Asia announced its 2024 winners today, May 3, spotlighting outstanding contributions to shedding light on pressing human rights issues across the continent.
Jointly administered by Human Rights Watch, Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Communication, and foreign correspondents’ clubs in Thailand and Taiwan, these awards recognize exceptional journalism that sheds light on pressing human rights issues across the continent.
Among the top laureates are reports delving into the escalating number of suicides among Afghan women enduring the oppressive regime of the Taliban. The HRW statement cited the crucial impact of reports uncovering the plight of Afghan women, alongside the persecution of religious minorities in Myanmar and the Chinese government’s handling of COVID-19 quarantine protesters.
Tirana Hassan, executive director at Human Rights Watch, underscored the significance of these awards, stating, “The Human Rights Press Awards recognize journalists who are uncovering some of the most pressing rights issues in Asia.” She emphasized the pivotal role journalists play in countering the rise of authoritarianism and mass disinformation.
‘Zan Times’ media has been announced as the winner of the ‘Newsroom in Exile’ category for reporting on the suicides of women and girls in Afghanistan under Taliban rule, along with a media outlet from Myanmar.
The Human Rights Watch statement said that the ‘Zan Times’ has collected data showing the horrifying reality that the increasing number of women and girls in Afghanistan prefer death over life under Taliban suppression.
Comprising a group of female journalists led by Zahra Nader, Zan Times reports on human rights violations in Afghanistan, with a particular focus on the plight of women.
