Maryam Rahmati, an Afghan journalist and Afghanistan International correspondent based at the United Nations headquarters in New York, has won the bronze award in the 2026 Ricardo Ortega Memorial Prize category presented by the United Nations Correspondents Association (UNCA).
The award recognizes television and radio journalism covering events related to the United Nations, its affiliated agencies, and field operations.
In recent years, Rahmati has covered major international events, political developments, and human rights issues in Afghanistan and Iran. Restrictions imposed on women and human rights challenges in both countries have been among the subjects featured in her reporting.
Human Rights and Restrictions on Women in Afghanistan
Since the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan in August 2021, women and girls have faced widespread restrictions on education, employment, and participation in public life. The continued closure of secondary schools to many girls and the ban on university education for women have affected the educational and professional futures of millions of Afghan women and girls.
In these circumstances, journalists and human rights activists play an important role in documenting the situation of Afghan women and bringing their voices to the international community. Media coverage of these restrictions helps draw the attention of international organizations to the human rights situation in Afghanistan.
The Ricardo Ortega Memorial Prize is named after a Spanish journalist who reported on wars in Afghanistan and other countries. He was killed in March 2004 while covering events in Haiti.
The 2026 awards ceremony is scheduled to take place in New York on December 3.
Rahmati’s award has once again drawn attention to the presence of Afghan journalists in international media and their role in covering global events and human rights issues.
#MaryamRahmati #AfghanJournalists #Afghanistan #WomensRights #HumanRights #UnitedNations #AfghanistanInternational #JournalismAward #PanahPress
