Dr. Halima Bashir wins the 2010 Anna Politkovskaya Award
The Anna Politkovskaya Award is given annually by RAW in WAR (Reach all Women in WAR), an international human rights organization that supports women human rights defenders working in countries at war and in conflict. Each year, they commemorate the October 7, 2006 murder of Anna Politkovskaya, a campaigning Russian journalist and outspoken government critic, and honor other women like her in the world, with an annual award in Ms. Politkovskaya’s name. The award is given to a woman human rights defender from a conflict zone in the world, who stands up for the victims of this conflict, often at a great personal risk.
This year, RAW has given the fourth annual Anna Politikovskaya Award to Dr. Halima Bashir, the first to break the silence surrounding Sudanese cultural taboos on sexual violence, heralding her as a voice of strength, resilience and courage around the world. Dr. Bashir regularly speaks out against the brutal violence against women in Darfur on the international stage. And we have been honored to publish her memoir, Tears of the Desert, now available in trade paperback.
Please join us in congratulating Dr. Bashir on this amazing honor, and in celebrating her courage and advocacy for justice for the women and girls in Sudan.
I think it is amazing that they chose to give the Anna Politikovskaya Award to Dr. Halima Bashir this year. She is such a remarkable person who’s only desire is to spread the word against sexual violence and violence against women in Darfur, a topic that is so often ignored. A true view of the terror in Darfur is rarely seen or talked about because of the Sudanese culture and government restrictions but I just watched a movie called Attack on Darfur, and it is a disturbing portrayal of the violence there and especially the violence against women.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pQqoVhb7m4
This is the first movie or documentary I have seen that comes anywhere close to showing the real level of danger for women in Darfur. I think she is one of the bravest women out there for going and speaking even after she was attacked.
I read her book recently and I couldn’t believe on the situation of Darfur. I cried. Cried for the children. For the women. For the families. For the young men who are dying on the fights. The human species is capable of the most darkest things. This award is more than deserved, of course! The courage of dr Halima Bashir is impressive. I hope the persons who travelled to Darfur to help their people, find strength they need and can come home safely. Congratulations Dr Halima Bashir!