French Photographer Wins Award for No (Wo)man’s Land, A Portrait of Afghan Women Under Taliban Rule
Renowned French photojournalist Véronique de Viguerie has been awarded the 2025 Roger Pic Prize for her powerful documentary photo series titled “Afghanistan: A Land Without Women.” The series, which captures the daily lives of Afghan women under Taliban rule, was praised for its striking portrayal of both oppression and resilience.
De Viguerie’s work goes beyond showing women as victims of political and religious repression. “Through my photographs, I don’t want to show women only as victims trapped in history,” she said. “My camera captures their strength, solidarity, and courage—women who, despite the suppression, continue to resist and take their fate into their own hands.”
The Roger Pic Prize, named in honor of the late French photographer and journalist Roger Pic, is awarded annually to photographers whose documentary work presents human realities with a distinctive and empathetic lens. The prize includes a monetary award of €5,000.
De Viguerie’s series will be featured at the La Gacilly Photo Festival during a special screening and panel event on June 7, 2025, and will also be exhibited at the SCAM Gallery in Paris from October 13, 2025, to February 6, 2026.
A seasoned conflict photographer, De Viguerie has previously reported from Afghanistan, Somalia, Iraq, Syria, and Yemen. With “Afghanistan: A Land Without Women,” she aims to draw international attention to the harsh realities Afghan women face under Taliban rule, and to document their unwavering determination to survive and assert their rights.
