Human rights lawyer Amal Clooney and Afghan journalist Zahra Joya are among 12 women being named as Time's Women of the Year for 2022, a first for the magazine. Clooney has been recognised for her work, especially with Yazidi victims of the ISIS in Iraq, while Joya, who fled to the UK after the collapse of the Afghan government last year, is highlighted for her work with Rukhshana Media, a platform she founded with a focus on stories by and about Afghan women.
"Our 2022 Women of the Year list features 12 individuals who have reached across communities, generations and borders to fight for a more inclusive and equitable world," Time magazine said.
Other women on the list include actress Kerry Washington, singer Kacey Musgraves, software engineer Tracy Chou, British midwife Jennie Joseph, poet Amanda Gorman, athlete Allyson Felix, Nasdaq chief executive Adena Friedman, lawyer Sherrilyn Ifill, civil rights activist Amanda Nguyen and trans actress Michaela Jae Rodriguez.
All 12 women will be honoured at a gala on March 8, on International Women’s Day, in Los Angeles, the magazine said.
Time renamed its Man of the Year to Person of the Year in 1999, but only a few women have made it to that list, including German Chancellor Angela Merkel in 2015 and environmental activist Greta Thunberg in 2019.
In 2020, the magazine chose 100 Women of the Year, selecting one trailblazing woman to represent each year from 1920 to 2019.
The annual Women of the Year is "our way of correcting the record", the magazine said.
Interviewed by Filipina journalist and Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Ressa, Clooney spoke about her many projects defending victims of war for free.
“You have to have dogged determination,” Amal, who is married to Hollywood star George Clooney says. “You’re coming up against people whose power and existence depends on them continuing to commit serious abuses, and they’re not going to give up. So we definitely can’t give up on our side.”
Joya, who dressed up as a boy to go to school under the Taliban rule in Afghanistan in the 1990s, is profiled by actress Angelina Jolie.
“We don’t do simple journalism these days,” Joya, who is now 29, tells Jolie. “We are trying to write for our freedom.
"Until they protect women’s rights, the Taliban should not be recognised as a government by the international community."
Look back at Amal Clooney's style evolution here:
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Amal Clooney arrives for the hearing of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange at Belmarsh Magistrates Court, London, on August 2, 2011. Getty Images -
Amal Clooney, in a vermillion shirt dress, attends the Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict in London on June 12, 2014. Getty Images -
Amal Clooney, in a classic Dolce & Gabbana gown, and George Clooney attend the Celebrity Fight Night Gala on September 7, 2014 in Florence, Italy. Getty Images -
George and Amal Clooney, in a floral Giambattista Valli dress, in Venice on September 28, 2014. EPA -
George and Amal Clooney, wearing a Stella McCartney two-piece, leave the Hotel Cipriani in Venice on September 29, 2014, the day of their civil ceremony. EPA -
Amal Clooney, wearing a white tweed skirt suit, at the Acropolis Museum on October 15, 2014 in Athens, Greece. Getty Images -
George and Amal Clooney, in Dior, arrive for the 72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards on January 11, 2015. EPA -
George and Amal Clooney, in studded leather John Galliano for Maison Margiela Couture, arrive at the Met Gala in New York on May 4, 2015. EPA -
George and Amal Clooney, in a coral and black mini dress, at the premiere of Disney's 'Tomorrowland' in California on May 9, 2015. EPA -
George and Amal Clooney, wearing marigold silk by Maison Margiela, at the premiere of 'Tomorrowland' on May 25, 2015 in Tokyo, Japan. Getty Images -
Amal Clooney, wearing a pinstriped suit, attends a press conference at Doughty Street Chambers on October 5, 2015 in London. Getty Images -
Amal Clooney, in a woollen skirt suit, meets with former president of Maldives Mohamed Nasheed and former British prime minister David Cameron in London on January 23, 2016. EPA -
Amal Clooney, wearing vintage Saint Laurent, at the 66th Berlinale International Film Festival on February 11, 2016 in Germany. Getty Images -
George and Amal Clooney, in an off-shoulder Versace gown, at the 69th annual Cannes Film Festival at the Palais des Festivals on May 12, 2016 in France. Getty Images -
George and Amal Clooney, in feathered Atelier Versace, at the 42nd annual Cesar Awards in Paris on February 24, 2017. EPA -
Amal Clooney, in a yellow shift dress, speaks at the United Nations Headquarters in New York on March 9, 2017. EPA -
George and Amal Clooney, in lilac Versace chiffon, at the 74th Venice Film Festival on September 2, 2017 in Italy. Getty Images -
Amal Clooney, in a red skirt suit with pussybow blouse, attends a United Nations Security Council meeting at UN headquarters in New York on September 21, 2017. EPA -
Amal Clooney, in a Richard Quinn creation, arrives at the Met Gala in New York on May 7, 2018. EPA -
Amal, in canary Stella McCartney, and George Clooney arrive at St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle before the wedding of Prince Harry to Meghan Markle on May 19, 2018. Getty Images -
George and Amal Clooney, in a soft metallic pink Prada dress, arrive at the American Film Institute 46th Life Achievement Award Gala in California on June 7, 2018. EPA -
Amal Clooney, in a belted red midi, attends the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony on December 10, 2018 in Oslo, Norway. Getty Images -
George and Amal Clooney, in a Stella McCartney jumpsuit, attend the People’s Postcode Lottery Charity Gala on March 15, 2019 in Edinburgh, Scotland. Getty Images -
George and Amal Clooney, in an Oscar de la Renta mini dress, arrive for the premiere of Hulu's 'Catch 22' in Hollywood on May 7, 2019. EPA -
George and Amal Clooney, in Giambattista Valli, in Rome on May 13, 2019. Getty Images -
George and Amal Clooney, in a strapless Ralph & Russo dress, attend the 'Catch 22' premiere on May 15, 2019 in London. Getty Images -
Amal Clooney, in chic white separates, at the Global Conference on Press Freedom on July 11, 2019 in London. Getty Images
