Al Jazeera English wins at Amnesty Australia Media Awards

• 101 East’s “Afghanistan: No Country for Women” wins the Best Film in the television category

Al Jazeera English has won the Best Film in the television category at the 2015 Amnesty Australia awards.

101 East’s Afghanistan: “No Country for Women" beat off competition from various entries from Australian media to win the award.

Thirteen years after the fall of the Taliban, “Afghanistan: No Country for Women” tells the story of Afghan women who continue to suffer oppression and abuse. Research carried out by Global Rights estimates that almost nine out of ten Afghan women face physical, sexual or psychological violence, or are forced into marriage. In the majority of cases the abuse is committed by the people they love and trust the most - their families.

Sharon Roobol, Executive Producer of 101 East, who collected the award on behalf of Al Jazeera, in her acceptance speech said: "I would like to thank Amnesty International for the award and promoting coverage of human rights in the media, but also on behalf of Al Jazeera I would like to thank and remember the incredible women of Afghanistan who made this film possible. Their bravery, camaraderie and resilience and their willingness to share their stories with reporter Karishma Vyas, helped inspire change”.

Commenting on the award win, Giles Trendle, Acting Managing Director of Al Jazeera English said: “101 East tells real stories, holds those in power to account and highlights issues which are important to people from the plains of Afghanistan to the coral reefs of Australia. We are delighted that Amnesty Australia has awarded 101 East’s "Afghanistan: No Country for Women” the Best Film in the television category.  This is testimony to the contribution 101 East has made in reporting through bold journalism. Its journalism with an impact on human rights and which is recognized by an organisation aiming to make the world a better place.”

In April 2015 101 East won four Gold Medals and one Bronze at the New York Festivals International TV and Film Awards.101 East won Gold medals for Return of the Lizard King, The Dolphin Hunters and Stray Bullets, while 101 East presenter Steve Chao won a Gold Medal for Best News Reporter/Correspondent.101 East also won a Bronze medal for the episode We Built This City, while they received two Finalist certificates for Food For Thought and Indonesia’s Rock Governor.

Ends:

Watch Afghanistan: No Country for Women online.

Reporter: Karishma Vyas

Cameraman: Matt Allard

Editor: Badrul Hisham

Executive Producer: Sharon Roobol