UN body gives prestigious award to Al-Jazeera Network

The UN Women for Peace Association (UNWFPA) has given the Qatar-based Al-Jazeera Media Network its “Awareness Award” for its focus on critical women’s issues in documentary coverage around the world, Alarab.qa has reported. The UN body handed the award to Al-Jazeera on International Women’s Day after a panel discussion held at UN headquarters on the role of media in empowering women.

“In our inaugural year of the UNWFPA Awareness Award, it is my distinct pleasure to give the award to Al-Jazeera for their extensive work on women’s and girls’ issues across the planet,” said Barbara Winston, the head of the UNWFPA. “The programming on Al-Jazeera on women’s and girls’ issues is exemplary and we’re happy for the work that Al-Jazeera has done and continues to do.”

She pointed out that this often involved going into dangerous war zones to get stories. “Al-Jazeera journalists, many of whom are women themselves, risk their lives to bring to the world the stories that matter.”

In response, Abdulla Al-Najjar, the network’s Executive Director of Global Branding and Communications, pointed out that, throughout its history, Al-Jazeera has been committed to covering issues that affect women from all backgrounds, faiths and regions of the world. “Women are so often victims of violence, abuse and persecution and the media needs to be courageous in covering their stories,” he explained. “We are very grateful to the UNWFPA for this honour, and are committed to continuing telling women’s stories from around the globe.”