“Outlawed in Pakistan” Wins Overseas Press Club Award

The Overseas Press Club of America (OPC) today announced that Outlawed in Pakistan — FRONTLINE’s May 2013 documentary exploring the complicated rape case of Pakistani teenager Kainat Soomro — has won this year’s David A. Andelman and Pamela Title Award for “the best international reporting in the broadcast media showing a concern for the human condition.”

In Pakistan, women and girls who allege rape are often more strongly condemned than their alleged rapists. Some are even killed by their own families.

“This compelling and beautifully filmed FRONTLINE documentary follows 13-year-old Kainat and her family over a period of years as she tries—and fails—to bring to justice the men who allegedly gang-raped her,” today’s award listing on the OPC website says.

“In the process, the reporters spotlight conditions for women, abuses under Islamic law and serious police failings,” the listing continues. “FRONTLINE and the filmmakers give the full picture of what a nightmare it is to bring a rape case in Pakistan.”

The award will be presented to Outlawed in Pakistan filmmakers Habiba Nosheen, Hilke Schellmann, Hemal Trivedi and Dan Sugarman at tonight’s 75th annual Overseas Press Club Awards dinner.

Watch the award-winning film in full below, and read FRONTLINE’s related reporting here.

Outlawed in Pakistan, an H2H Films production for FRONTLINE and the Independent Television Service (ITVS), is a co-presentation with the Center for Asian American Media (CAAM). Additional funding for the film was provided by the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting and the Fledgling Fund.