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Эзра Акаян
Ezra Acayan is a documentary and editorial photographer based in Manila whose work primarily focuses on social issues and human rights. Currently, he is working on a documentary reportage on the suffering and abuse experienced by communities under the Philippine government's war on drugs. In 2017, together with a team of Reuters journalists, was awarded a special merit at the Human Rights Press Awards for multimedia reporting on the drug war. He was also named Young Photographer of the Year at the Istanbul Photo Awards 2018. This work, along with work by other journalists who cover the drug war, has been exhibited in Geneva for two straight years as part of the Universal Periodic Review of the Philippines at the United Nations Human Rights Council. It has also been exhibited at the Foreign Correspondents Club in Thailand (FCCT), in France during the Prix-Bayeux Calvados Award for War Correspondents, in Sarajevo during the WARM Festival, and in Germany during the Lumix Festival for Young Photojournalism. He has done multimedia work for various outfits such as Reuters, European Pressphoto Agency, Agence France-Presse, Deutsche Presse-Agentur, French Society magazine, Rappler, and Rogue. He has also done work for NGOs such as Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe, Care International, and the French Red Cross. His work has appeared in Time, Newsweek, The New York Times, The Guardian, Wall Street Journal, Vice, Washington Post, Al Jazeera, Le Monde, Stern, Paris Match, and more.
Bodies of two men dumped in an isolated stretch of road are seen in Quezon city, Metro Manila, Philippines, June 22, 2017. Signs placed over their bodies both read "I am a thief, do not tolerate me."
Diana Vinculado weeps near the scene where her husband Antonio was killed by police in what they say was a shootout at a police checkpoint in Paraaque, Metro Manila, Philippines, July 14, 2017. Diana claims her husband had been missing for more than a week prior to his death.
Armed guards take position outside the Paraaque city jail in the outskirts of town where an alleged grenade blast killed 10 inmates, 8 of whom were awaiting trial for drug-related cases, in Paraaque, Metro Manila, Philippines, August 12, 2016.
The body of a man and victim of a vigilante-style execution with his head wrapped in tape lies on a street in Manila, Philippines, July 28, 2016. A sign placed on next to the body reads "I am a Chinese drug lord."
The body of Gilbert Beguelme, who according to relatives was a drug user, lies dead on a jeepney after he was shot dead by unidentified men riding on a motorcycle, in Manila, Philippines, November 9, 2016. According to neighbors, Gilbert was witness to the death of Alvin Mendoza, another victim of a drug-related killing.
The body of Kristita Padual is slumped on a chair at a roadside eatery after unidentified attackers shot her dead while she was having dinner in Quezon city, Metro Manila, March 4, 2017.
The body of a suspected drug pusher lies dead next to railroad tracks following what police say was a drug buy-bust operation in Manila, Philippines, July 18, 2016. The man had allegedly fought back against undercover cops who came to buy drugs from him.
The bodies of Paul Lester Lorenzo and Danny Laurente are hauled away in a makeshift trolley along a railroad, after they were shot dead by police in what they say was a drug buy-bust operation in Manila, Philippines, August 17, 2016. The two men had allegedly fought back according to police.
Luzviminda Siapo upon arriving home from Kuwait, weeps over the coffin of her son Raymart Siapo who was kidnapped and killed by armed men a day after a neighbor had reported him for selling drugs, in Navotas, Metro Manila, Philippines, April 3, 2017.
Bea, sister of 17-year-old Harold Bulan, holds a toy gun next to his coffin during his funeral wake in Quezon city, Metro Manila, Philippines, December 7, 2017. Harold was last seen with his cousin Jerico Garcia and their friend Jomari Sierez around midnight of November 22, 2017. Hours later, their bodies were dumped in different parts of town. Their throats had been sliced. A cardboard attached next to one of them listed the names of their friends. You are next! the writing on the sign read.
Isabelita Espinosa weeps outside a funeral parlour following the death of her 16-year-old son Sonny and six other people after armed men opened fire on two shanties in North Caloocan, Metro Manila, Philippines, December 28, 2016. According to police and residents, their supposed target was a known drug personality. The fatalities included three minors and a pregnant woman.
Funeral workers remove the tape wrapped around the head and wrists of a man who police say is a victim of a drug related vigilante execution in Manila, Philippines, September 21, 2016.
Marianito Libo-on smokes a cigarette as he stares at a pool of blood belonging to his son Jomar, who was shot dead by masked assailants in front of his wife and children at their house in Quezon city, Metro Manila, Philippines, June 14, 2017.
Ginnalyn Soriano weeps over the body of her elder brother Julius, who allegedly fought back and was killed by police during what they said was a drug sting operation, at a morgue in Malabon, Metro Manila, Philippines, June 22, 2017. At the morgue, the family noticed Julius wrists had cuff marks. The arm had a bullet wound too, and the slug was still embedded in his arm right where the cuff mark was, suggesting that the cuffs had stopped the bullet.
Family and friends of 13-year-old Aldrin Pineda weep during his funeral in Manila, March 14, 2018. Aldrin was playing with his friends in their neighborhood when Omar Molinao, a police officer, shot him dead. Officer Malinao claims he was on patrol in the area when he tripped and accidentally fired his gun.