Sharmeen bags Robert F Kennedy award for 'The Price of Forgiveness'

KARACHI: The Oscar winner documentary – A Girl in the River: The Price of Forgiveness – by famed Pakistani filmmaker Shermeen Obaid-Chinoy has made the headlines again, this time, by winning the best International Television Award.

Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy has become the first Pakistani to win Robert F. Kennedy award besides two Oscar awards.

The announcement was made during the 49th annual Robert F. Kennedy Journalism awards held on May 6. She will be honored with the golden statuette in a formal ceremony that will be held in Washington DC, America on May 23.

The documentary has also won the Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Award.

The Academy Award winning documentary tells the story of a young Pakistani woman, Saba, who dared to marry the man of her choice, in a society where such decisions are considered unacceptable. In a botch attempt, her family tries to kill her in the name of honor, but she survives.

“Speaking the truth is never easy, especially given the world we live in today where journalists are routinely harassed and forced into silence”, Chinoy said in a statement.

“I am honored to receive this award and hope to continue telling important stories that affect all of us, in the hopes that one day we will leave a more humane world for the next generation”, she added.

The Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Awards are awarded by Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights in several categories. It began in 1968. The winners of RFK Awards are selected by about 50 journalists. 2017 marks the 49th year of Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Awards.