The United States Embassy in Pristina announced Arbana Xharra, Editor-in-Chief of Zeri, as the winner of the Secretary of State’s prestigious International Women of Courage Award (IWOC) for the European Bureau. The Secretary of State’s annual IWOC Award honors women around the globe who have exemplified exceptional courage and leadership in advocating for human rights, women’s equality, and social progress, often at great personal risk. Moreover, it highlights the European Bureau’s strategic priorities of countering violent extremism and combating corruption. The IWOC Award is the only Department of State award that pays tribute to emerging women leaders worldwide.
Among the first journalists to report on religious extremism, Xharra authored a series of investigative reports on extremists operating in Kosovo. These efforts not only helped society understand the problem, but also bolstered government efforts to address it. Reactions to her reporting resulted in public attacks on her reputation and death threats to her and her family. Undeterred, Ms. Xharra continues to report on malfeasance in public institutions, and is galvanizing a new generation of journalists in search of the truth.
