Tomaz Silva wins Vladimir Herzog Award for human rights photography

Photographer Tomaz Silva of Agência Brasil has won the Vladimir Herzog Journalism Award for Amnesty and Human Rights. The award recognizes his work titled ‘Viúva se despede do marido morto na operação policial mais letal do Rio de Janeiro’ (Widow says goodbye to husband killed in Rio's deadliest police operation).

The winning photograph, taken in October 2025 at Complexo da Penha, depicts Fernanda da Silva Martins embracing the body of her partner. The judging committee stated that the image exposes the emotional impact of the deaths on the community more effectively than any other work, revealing the profound pain of those who lost loved ones.

Silva described arriving at the scene early in the morning to find bodies on the ground and a strong scent of the massacre. He noted that he chose to focus his lens on the suffering of the people rather than the mass of bodies to provide visibility to those experiencing the tragedy. Silva expressed that the recognition serves to strengthen public communication in the country.