Human Rights & Integration Journalism Prize

The Portuguese National Commission for UNESCO and the Secretariat General of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers awarded on 11 December 2023 the Prizes for Journalism – Human Rights and Integration.

These prizes acknowledge the work developed by media professionals on a national level to uphold human rights and fundamental freedoms.  The prize is awarded to the best work in the previous year by media professionals in their various fields – audiovisual media, radio, and written press.

The jury of this 18th edition was made up by Guilherme d’Oliveira Martins, Rita Figueiras, and Francisco Sena Santos.

The following pieces were awarded the 1st Prize:

In written press:

• As grades não fazem a prisão, [the bars don’t make the prison] by Maria João Bourbon, published in Expresso paper’s magazine.

tied with

• Esta casa salvou-me. [this house saved me] Ilda e Jorge turned Padre Cruz neighbourhood into a shelter for migrant women with breast cancer, by Catarina Reis, published in “Mensagem de Lisboa”.

In radio:

• Desassossego – Saúde e Doença Mental, [Unrest – Mental Health and Illness] by Margarida David Cardoso, Bernardo Afonso, Nuno Viegas, Joana Teresa Batista, and Pedro Miguel Santos, broadcast on Fumaça.

Audiovisual media:

• Despojos de Guerra – Episódio – Combatente Africano, [War Spoils – Episode – African Fighter] by Sofia Pinto Coelho, shown on SIC.

tied with

• O mínimo garantido, [The guaranteed minimum] by Miriam Alves, André Miguel, Filipe Melo, Ricardo Tenreiro, Rui Aranham and Diana Matias, shown on SIC, SIC Notícias, and OPTO.

The following pieces were given honourable mentions:

In written press:

• A solidão não é um problema de velhos. “A pessoa parece que morre em vida”, [Loneliness is not a problem of old folk. “It seems one dies while alive” by Natália Faria, published in Público newspaper;
• Jovens afegãs encontraram na académica / SF um mundo mais feliz, [Young Afghans found in académica / SF a happier world] by Emanuel Pereira, published in Diário As Beiras;
• Síria: refugiados de uma guerra esquecida, [Syria: refugees of a forgotten war] by Inês Chaíça, published in Público newspaper;
• Yuliia e Bhoye encontram refúgio em Portugal. Mas os seus caminhos (e dificuldades) não podiam ser mais diferentes, [Yuliia and Bhoye found refuge in Portugal. Yet their paths (and difficulties) couldn’t be more different] by Andreia Friaças, published in Público newspaper.

In radio:

• A fome, todos os dias, [Hunger, every day] by Isabel Meira, broadcast on Antena 2;
• Aos nossos avós, [To our grandparents] by Cristina Lai Men, broadcast on TSF.

In audiovisual media:

• Bebé afegã salva em Portugal, [Afghan baby rescued in Portugal] by Catarina Cadavez, Rodrigo Lobo, and Joana Melo, shown on RTP;
• A Guerra pela Água / Faroeste no Sudoeste, [The war for water / Farwest in the Southwest] by Maria José Rodrigues Garrido, Tiago Donato, João Franco, Gonçalo Prego, Wilson Cavaco Soares, Teresa Almeida, shown on TVI;
• Fuga para a paz, [Fleeing for peace] by Catarina Cadavez, Bruno de Jesus, Paulo Jorge, Carlos Felgueiras e Sousa, shown on RTP;
• Sobrevivemos!!! E agora?, [We survived!!! Now what?] by Paula Rebelo, shown on RTP.

The Regional and Local Press prize was awarded to:

• Esta casa salvou-me. [this house saved me] Ilda e Jorge turned Padre Cruz neighbourhood into a shelter for migrant women with breast cancer, by Catarina Reis, published in “Mensagem de Lisboa”.

View all the pieces in the Journalism Prizes – Human Rights and Integration 2023.