PARIS, France (October 2, 2023) – On Thursday evening, Mazen Darwish, the founder and general director of the Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression (SCM) received the Clooney Foundation for Justice’s Albie Awards on behalf of the organization. 

Accompanied by Yara Bader, the Programs Manager at SCM, Darwish was presented the Justice for Journalists Award as an honor given to global justice defenders who have devoted their lives to their work despite the great risk that comes with it.

The award ceremony that was held at the New York Public Library recognized justice defenders from Congo, Iran, Ukraine, and Thailand who dedicated their lives to the pursuit of freedom and justice.

Named after the South-African anti-apartheid hero Justice Albert “Albie” Sachs, the Albie Awards serve as a platform to recognize justice defenders from across the world for their great work and to shine a protective spotlight on them.