Geneva rights summit to bestow 2015 Women’s Rights Award on Iranian journalist Masih Alinejad, creator of viral Facebook page
AWARD. GENEVA, February 22 – A global coalition of 20 non-governmental organizations announced today that Iranian freelance journalist Masih Alinejad, creator of a viral Facebook page
that allows Iranian women to upload photos of themselves without the mandatory headscarf, has been selected as the inaugural 2015 recipient of the Geneva Summit Women’s Rights Award.
The prestigious prize will be presented in a public ceremony before UN delegates, human rights activists and journalists, this Tuesday, February 24th, 2015, at the 7th annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy.
The NGOs are honoring Alinejad “for giving a voice to the voiceless and stirring the conscience of humanity to support the struggle of Iranian women for basic human rights, freedom and equality.”
The Geneva Summit opens tomorrow with a UN special session for diplomats and journalists, followed by panel sessions on Tuesday that are open to the public.
“Hopefully, my award will create an opportunity for the voices of Iranian women »
“I’m delighted to receive this award,” said Alinejad. ““From 7-year-old schoolgirls to 70-year-old grandmothers, women in Iran are all forced to wear the hijab. Hopefully this award will create an opportunity for the voice sof Iranian women who say no to the forced hijab to echo throughout the halls of the United Nations.”
Alinejad hopes the award will “raise global awareness about Iranian women who are standing up for their basic rights.”
In retaliation for her activism, the Iranian government launched a public campaign, including billboards and media stories, to smear Alinejad’s reputation.
Alinejad, who now lives abroad, was born to a traditional and religious family. Her student activities landed her in jail at the age of 20 while she was pregnant. After her release, she left her small town for Tehran.
She worked as a journalist for several mainstream newspapers, starting with the daily Hambastegi, and later with the Iranian Labour News Agency as a parliamentary correspondent.
However, her journalism caused trouble. In 2005, her expose of parliamentary corruption got her expelled from the legislature.
Geneva Summit: Unique Gathering of Human Rights Heroes
The conference will feature top-name activists, former political prisoners and victims from China, Russia, Iran, and many other human rights hotspots, who will seek to influence foreign ministers gathering across the street days later to open the annual session of the UN Human RightsCouncil.
