International human rights organization honored with prestigious medical media award
Press release of the International Society for Human Rights
(Bonn, 13.03.2026) On March 11, the International Society for Human Rights (ISHR) has been honored with the Health:Angel – one of the most prestigious awards in German-language health media, presented by Health Media Award e.V. The festive award ceremony took place at the Hotel Königshof in Bonn – a symbolic location in the heart of the former German capital and current UN city.
The ceremony was a rescheduled event due to the coronavirus pandemic: the originally planned award ceremony had to be postponed due to COVID-19 and the associated restrictions on public life. This made the rescheduled award ceremony all the more festive, underscoring the importance of the ISHR’s work at the intersection of human rights and health education.
Award for outstanding commitment
The Health:Angel recognizes the ISHR’s long-standing and consistent commitment to disseminating information on health, human rights, and humanitarian issues. As one of the world’s leading non-governmental organizations in the field of human rights, the ISHR, based in Frankfurt am Main, has been working for decades to raise awareness of fundamental human rights, including the right to health.
Matthias K. Boehning, Secretary General of the International Society for Human Rights, accepted the award on behalf of the entire organization. “This award is a recognition of the many dedicated members, volunteers, and partners of the ISHR who work every day to highlight human rights violations and give a voice to those affected—especially in the area of health care and education,” said Boehning.
Prominent guests at the award ceremony
Masoud Takhsha from ParsiMed e. V. (parsimed.org) and Shaghayegh Taherkhani, a young professional in the field of cyber security, were among those who attended the ceremony at the Hotel Königshof. Also present was Prof. Dr. Thomas Schirrmacher, president of the International Council of the ISHR, internationally renowned theologian, ethicist, and one of the world’s leading human rights experts. Schirrmacher is President of the International Institute for Religious Freedom, Co-President of Religions for Peace, and was Secretary General of the World Evangelical Alliance, which represents around 600 million evangelical Christians, from 2021 to 2024. He regularly appears as an expert witness before the German Bundestag, the EU Parliament, and the United Nations. In 2022, Schirrmacher himself was honored with the Health Media Award for his global commitment to basic health services—his presence as an award winner lent additional weight to today’s ceremony at the German-Persian Medical Association. Together, all those present emphasized the close networking of civil society actors at the intersection of health, digitalization, and human rights.
ParsiMed e. V. is a non-profit organization dedicated to medical education and health care for Persian-speaking people in Germany. The association was nominated for a Health:Angel award – a recognition that honors ParsiMed e. V.’s extraordinary commitment at the intersection of health, language, and integration. The participation of Shaghayegh Taherkhani as a young professional in the field of cyber security also highlights the growing importance of digital security in the context of human rights and health data.
About the International Society for Human Rights (ISHR)
The International Society for Human Rights (ISHR) was founded in Frankfurt am Main in 1972 and is now one of the world’s largest non-governmental organizations in the field of human rights, with members and sections in over 30 countries. The society documents human rights violations, is involved in political education, and campaigns internationally for the universality of human rights. Its general secretariat is located in Bonn.
Facts at a Glance: Health Media Award e. V. & Health:Angel
Organizer: Health Media Award e. V. – non-profit association for the promotion of high-quality health communication
Founded: The association was founded to raise public awareness of excellence in health media and communication.
The Health:Angel: Award for organizations, projects, and individuals who make a significant contribution to public health education through their communication.
Award categories: The award is aimed at media outlets, NGOs, companies, and individuals in the health sector.
Target group: Professional public, media, health professions, and the general public.
Special feature: The Health:Angel is an independent, non-commercial award presented by a jury of experts.
Venue for the 2026 awards ceremony: Hotel Königshof, Bonn – a location of particular historical and symbolic significance for Germany and Europe.
Downloads and Links
- Photo (from left): Shaghayegh Taherkhani, Markus Berger (Health Media Award e. V.), Matthias Böhning, Thomas Schirrmacher, and Masoud Takhsha at the awards ceremony © ISHR<
- Website of the International Society for Human Rights (ISHR): https://ishr.org
- Website of the Health Media Award: https://healthmediaaward.com
