In an exciting announcement, Xhabir Deralla, an esteemed investigative journalist from North Macedonia and representing CIVIL’s media platform, has been named the recipient of the prestigious 2024 Solidarity Award for Journalists from Southeast Europe, by the Südosteuropa-Gesellschaft, Germany. This accolade celebrates the bravery and dedication of journalists across partner countries who undertake significant personal risks to deliver critical reporting.
The Solidarity Award highlights and commends Deralla’s outstanding contributions to advancing democracy, upholding the rule of law, and promoting press freedom throughout the region. Deralla’s remarkable career and impactful initiatives have made a lasting difference in the spheres of human rights, journalism, and combating disinformation.
Born in 1967, Xhabir Memedi Deralla is not only an accomplished journalist but also a prominent human rights activist, writer, and hybrid warfare analyst. As one of the founding members and head of CIVIL, a leading human rights organization established in North Macedonia in 1999, Deralla has spearheaded numerous creative projects, multimedia campaigns, festivals, documentaries, and conferences aimed at raising awareness and promoting civic engagement.
Deralla’s extensive career spans over three decades, during which he has collaborated with various media organizations both locally and internationally. He has been a member of the Association of Journalists of North Macedonia since 1990 and Amnesty International since 1994, demonstrating his deep commitment to human rights advocacy.
Furthermore, since 2008, Deralla has overseen election observation operations for Civil in North Macedonia, collaborating with numerous international and regional bodies. His expertise also extends to arms control, with Civil serving as a senior member organization of the International Action Network on Small Arms (IANSA), and he is actively involved in countering disinformation and hybrid warfare tactics in North Macedonia and the broader Western Balkans region.
The award ceremony honoring Xhabir Deralla will take place on July 4, 2024, at the German Bundestag. Further details regarding the program will be announced in due course.
This recognition underscores the profound impact of Deralla’s tireless efforts in advancing human rights, press freedom, and democracy, not only within North Macedonia but across Southeast Europe. It serves as an inspiration to journalists and activists alike, reaffirming the importance of fearless and critical journalism in fostering societal progress and accountability.
Stay tuned for more updates on this remarkable achievement and join us in congratulating Xhabir Deralla on this well-deserved honor.
CIVIL’s Team
