Journalists Awarded Prizes for Outstanding Reporting on Women’s Rights in Albania
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The three award-winning journalists. From left to right: Ilda Hoxha, Anesti Bajramemaj, and Aurora Velaj. Photo: UN Women Albania
Tiranë, June 18th - Three journalists were awarded prizes in a national journalism competition that celebrated compelling reporting on women’s rights and gender equality. The competition, which brought together 32 journalists from across Albania, aimed to promote quality journalism that reflects the lived experiences of women and exposes the systemic challenges they face.
Organized by the Albanian Women Empowerment Network, with support from UN Women Albania and funding from the UK Government, the competition was concluded with an award ceremony following an evaluation of the submitted pieces by a panel of senior journalists. The event also served as a platform for dialogue between civil society and media professionals on the role of journalism in promoting equality and inclusion.
Discussion with civil society and media on the media’s role in promoting equality and inclusion. Photo: UN Women Albania
First prize was awarded to Aurora Velaj for her reporting on the barriers women face when stepping into politics. Through interviews and an analysis of current political discourse, her story reiterated the persistent need for structural support to ensure women’s equal participation in a male-dominated political landscape. Women currently hold 50 of the 140 seats in the Albanian Parliament and only 8 of the 61 municipalities are led by women.
Second prize went to Ilda Hoxha for her in-depth report on the emotional and financial toll of in vitro fertilization (IVF). Her story shed light on the often-ignored personal struggles of women undergoing repeated fertility treatments, while also exploring the social pressures surrounding motherhood.
Third prize was awarded to Anesti Bajramemaj for his investigative reporting on the lack of institutional and financial support for survivors of domestic violence, with a focus on barriers to accessing housing. His piece shed light on systemic gaps that continue to prevent many women from finding safety and building independent lives.
“I chose to focus on women’s participation in politics because it remained a hot topic in the recent elections. I wanted to go beyond the rhetoric and speak directly to women in politics. The reality shows that even when they are closer to power, women still face significant barriers and need more support.”
Aurora Velaj, first prize winner
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“Fertility isn’t just a women’s issue; attitudes around it are based on a societal prejudice. As one doctor told me, men also need to understand this problem. This story touched me deeply, as I spoke to many women enduring the pain of infertility, some after more than ten failed attempts.”
Ilda Hoxha, second prize winner
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“The biggest challenge in accessing housing for domestic violence survivors is the lack of financial support and state involvement. Without these, many women remain trapped and unable to rebuild their lives.”
Anesti Bajramemaj, third prize winner
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The award ceremony was part of the Thematic Writing Competition on “Best Article on Women’s Rights in Albania”, which aimed to promote ethical, inclusive, and gender-sensitive reporting on issues such as gender equality, women’s rights, and gender-based violence. In parallel with the competition, 15 young journalists and students of journalism participated in a dedicated mentoring programme, where they were guided by lecturers from the Faculty of Journalism at the University of Tirana and prominent senior journalists.
In the course of this mentoring process, they were encouraged to write and submit articles highlighting both the challenges and the progress made in advancing women’s rights in Albania, as part of the competition mentioned above.
Not only did this initiative incentivize quality journalism through recognition and visibility, it also helped foster a new generation of media professionals committed to ethical reporting. It underscored the vital role of journalism in amplifying women’s voices, challenging stereotypes and promoting social change, while at the same pressing the point that reporting on gender equality is a shared responsibility of both women and men.
