Photojournalist Jes Aznar of IWPR’s Philippine human rights reporting project won two prizes at the 5th Annual Population Development (PopDev) Awards in Manila on December 2.

It is the second year in a row that IWPR’s first project in the Philippines has triumphed in the photojournalism category of the televised awards, which are organised by Philippine parliamentarians to honour “outstanding and responsible reporting on development and population issues”.

A total 474 entries were submitted.

Aznar, a young freelance photographer won the photo essay award with his entry on the urban poor of Manila, commissioned by the human rights reporting project.

He was also awarded first prize in the single photo category for a picture illustrating an earlier project report on a local campaign to secure better reproductive rights and free contraception.

He has been working with the project since its launch in January 2008.

Meanwhile, Claire Delfin of the GMA TV News website, who contributed 12 stories to the human rights reporting project during its two years of operation, won the best investigative reporting category for her expose on child pornography.

IWPR’s human rights reporting project closed in June because of a lack of funds. It had been short-listed in the Best New Media category at the One World Media Awards 2009. The project website (http://rightsreporting.net/) remains open and is currently showcasing Aznar’s latest photo essay on the Maguindanao massacre on November 23 which left 57 civilians - including 30 journalists - dead.

The site also includes several commentaries and analysis on the massacre - the worst case of its kind in recent Philippine history.

Also see Photo Essay: Philippines Massacre

For more information, please contact Alan Davis, alan@iwpr.net.

ABOUT IWPR

IWPR undertakes capacity-building programmes in more than two dozen areas of crisis and conflict around the world. Established in 1993, its work focuses on training, reporting and institution-building. This includes establishing independent local media; training local reporters, editors and producers in basic and specialist skills; supporting extensive in-depth reporting on human rights, good governance and related issues; disseminating fact-based reporting in developing countries and internationally; and strengthening communications capacity of local human rights, women’s and grassroots organisations.