2023 In Focus

20 Captivating Photos From Around the World

This year, Global Press Journal reporters documented moments of celebration, mourning and everyday life.

Emilton Danushan, 17, washes his father’s fishing nets after school on Pannai Beach.
Joyce Banda, left, and her younger sister, Bwalya Banda, knit wigs with synthetic hair on mannequin heads in Kamwala Market.
Srijana Shrestha, who says her husband was shot dead in their home in 2002 by members of the People’s Liberation Army, the armed wing of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist), sits for a portrait in her room.
Ubi Aaron vogues during Ballroom Night at Kweens Klub in the neighborhood of Santurce. Members of the LGBTQ+ community face discrimination, heal emotional wounds and find family under the neon lights of the region's voguing scene.
Esther Paul, right, stands with her three children Rousterline Audate, 12, Rouskenley Audate, 4, and Ruth-Taïsha Audate, 3, outside their school where she also works as a teacher with the youngest students. High fuel prices have pushed public transportation out of budget for Paul, forcing her and her children to walk an hour each way to get to class.
María Sojob, a documentarian whose audiovisual narratives explore Tsotsil culture from her perspective as a member of the indigenous group, poses for a portrait at her home.
Erkhembayar Altanbanzragch, 11, poses on a camel at the Thousand Camel Festival.
Mega, 14, who asked to be identified by only her first name for safety concerns, poses for a portrait at the Lupins Africa rehabilitation center. She says she walked to her local police station to file a complaint against her father after she was sexually abused.
Nathan Jahel González Nieves, left, and Yadiel Daniel Lorenzo Villarrubia, both 8, find earthworms with their after-school teacher, Damaris González, at a school garden. During the after-school program, students develop ecological awareness and learn the importance of agricultural sustainability.
Binu Yadav, left, comforts Nirmaladebi Shah — who is fasting to demand justice for the death of her daughter — at Maitighar Mandala, a popular location to protest. After being raped, Yadav says she was kidnapped, forced to marry and kept in captivity by her now-former husband, all to prevent her from reporting him to the police.
Akiram Kigongo, left, and Moses Byamukama lower a wooden stretcher that they use to transport rock salt from Lake Katwe to shore to earn money for school fees.
Ana Ortega Juárez, a drama graduate, activist and Mexican sign-language interpreter, performs a song as a tribute to Juan Monedita in the historic area of Los Fuertes.
Priest Kasereka Nzandu, wearing a white robe, recites prayers while a crowd of mourners gathers at a burial site. Funeral rights have been rapidly changing for the Nande tribe, especially among the youth, and critics point at urbanization and Christianity as possible culprits.
Rosario Zapata, who has been a domestic worker for nearly 35 years, stands at a window at one of her employer’s homes. She currently works in three different homes, one of which requires a two-hour commute by public transport.
Motorcyclists wait in traffic during rush hour.
Sachi Rosenthal, 16, with a megaphone, sings and dances feminist chants with other young women during the International Women’s Day march.
Uvugdorj Delger, left, with his grandchild, Ankhbayar Orgilbayar, 15, and a relative’s child, Battuvshin Batsukh, 3, herd his reindeer. Uvugdorj is Dukha, the last reindeer herders of Mongolia who live deep in the taiga of north Mongolia, where temperatures can drop to minus 53 degrees Celsius in the winter and rarely rise above 23 in the summer.
Jenath Pratheep places colorful chicken toys to attract customers.
Environmental degradation caused by lithium mining. As global demand skyrockets for the metal used in batteries, outside interests have stepped in to mine, leaving locals with a stark choice between living in a mining zone and relocating.
Modesto López Muñoz, left, Mario Muñoz Cayetano, middle, and Santos Rentería de la Cruz, right, leave offerings at the Pacific Ocean in front of Waxie tsut+a, or white stone, the morning after performing an all-night ceremony in Tatéi Haramára.
Emilton Danushan, 17, washes his father’s fishing nets after school on Pannai Beach.
Jaffna, Sri Lanka
Emilton Danushan, 17, washes his father’s fishing nets after school on Pannai Beach.
Vijayatharsiny Thinesh, GPJ Sri Lanka
Joyce Banda, left, and her younger sister, Bwalya Banda, knit wigs with synthetic hair on mannequin heads in Kamwala Market.
Lusaka, Zambia
Joyce Banda, left, and her younger sister, Bwalya Banda, knit wigs with synthetic hair on mannequin heads in Kamwala Market.
Prudence Phiri, GPJ Zambia
Srijana Shrestha, who says her husband was shot dead in their home in 2002 by members of the People’s Liberation Army, the armed wing of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist), sits for a portrait in her room.
Kirtipur, Nepal
Srijana Shrestha, who says her husband was shot dead in their home in 2002 by members of the People’s Liberation Army, the armed wing of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist), sits for a portrait in her room.
Shilu Manandhar, GPJ Nepal
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Ubi Aaron vogues during Ballroom Night at Kweens Klub in the neighborhood of Santurce. Members of the LGBTQ+ community face discrimination, heal emotional wounds and find family under the neon lights of the region's voguing scene.
San Juan, Puerto Rico
Ubi Aaron vogues during Ballroom Night at Kweens Klub in the neighborhood of Santurce. Members of the LGBTQ+ community face discrimination, heal emotional wounds and find family under the neon lights of the region's voguing scene.
Gabriela Meléndez Rivera, GPJ Puerto Rico
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Esther Paul, right, stands with her three children Rousterline Audate, 12, Rouskenley Audate, 4, and Ruth-Taïsha Audate, 3, outside their school where she also works as a teacher with the youngest students. High fuel prices have pushed public transportation out of budget for Paul, forcing her and her children to walk an hour each way to get to class.
Cap-Haïtien, Haiti
Esther Paul, right, stands with her three children Rousterline Audate, 12, Rouskenley Audate, 4, and Ruth-Taïsha Audate, 3, outside their school where she also works as a teacher with the youngest students. High fuel prices have pushed public transportation out of budget for Paul, forcing her and her children to walk an hour each way to get to class.
Verlande Cadet, GPJ Haiti
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María Sojob, a documentarian whose audiovisual narratives explore Tsotsil culture from her perspective as a member of the indigenous group, poses for a portrait at her home.
Chenalhó, Chiapas, Mexico
María Sojob, a documentarian whose audiovisual narratives explore Tsotsil culture from her perspective as a member of the indigenous group, poses for a portrait at her home.
Marissa Revilla, GPJ Mexico
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Erkhembayar Altanbanzragch, 11, poses on a camel at the Thousand Camel Festival.
Dalanzadgad, Umnugovi province, Mongolia
Erkhembayar Altanbanzragch, 11, poses on a camel at the Thousand Camel Festival.
Uranchimeg Tsogkhuu, GPJ Mongolia
Mega, 14, who asked to be identified by only her first name for safety concerns, poses for a portrait at the Lupins Africa rehabilitation center. She says she walked to her local police station to file a complaint against her father after she was sexually abused.
Gayaza, Uganda
Mega, 14, who asked to be identified by only her first name for safety concerns, poses for a portrait at the Lupins Africa rehabilitation center. She says she walked to her local police station to file a complaint against her father after she was sexually abused.
Patricia Lindrio, GPJ Uganda
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Nathan Jahel González Nieves, left, and Yadiel Daniel Lorenzo Villarrubia, both 8, find earthworms with their after-school teacher, Damaris González, at a school garden. During the after-school program, students develop ecological awareness and learn the importance of agricultural sustainability.
Aguada, Puerto Rico
Nathan Jahel González Nieves, left, and Yadiel Daniel Lorenzo Villarrubia, both 8, find earthworms with their after-school teacher, Damaris González, at a school garden. During the after-school program, students develop ecological awareness and learn the importance of agricultural sustainability.
Coraly Cruz Mejías, GPJ Puerto Rico
Binu Yadav, left, comforts Nirmaladebi Shah — who is fasting to demand justice for the death of her daughter — at Maitighar Mandala, a popular location to protest. After being raped, Yadav says she was kidnapped, forced to marry and kept in captivity by her now-former husband, all to prevent her from reporting him to the police.
Kathmandu, Nepal
Binu Yadav, left, comforts Nirmaladebi Shah — who is fasting to demand justice for the death of her daughter — at Maitighar Mandala, a popular location to protest. After being raped, Yadav says she was kidnapped, forced to marry and kept in captivity by her now-former husband, all to prevent her from reporting him to the police.
Sunita Neupane, GPJ Nepal
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Akiram Kigongo, left, and Moses Byamukama lower a wooden stretcher that they use to transport rock salt from Lake Katwe to shore to earn money for school fees.
Kasese, Uganda
Akiram Kigongo, left, and Moses Byamukama lower a wooden stretcher that they use to transport rock salt from Lake Katwe to shore to earn money for school fees.
Edna Namara, GPJ Uganda
Ana Ortega Juárez, a drama graduate, activist and Mexican sign-language interpreter, performs a song as a tribute to Juan Monedita in the historic area of Los Fuertes.
Puebla, Mexico
Ana Ortega Juárez, a drama graduate, activist and Mexican sign-language interpreter, performs a song as a tribute to Juan Monedita in the historic area of Los Fuertes.
Patricia Zavala Gutiérrez, GPJ Mexico
Priest Kasereka Nzandu, wearing a white robe, recites prayers while a crowd of mourners gathers at a burial site. Funeral rights have been rapidly changing for the Nande tribe, especially among the youth, and critics point at urbanization and Christianity as possible culprits.
Lubero territory, North Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo
Priest Kasereka Nzandu, wearing a white robe, recites prayers while a crowd of mourners gathers at a burial site. Funeral rights have been rapidly changing for the Nande tribe, especially among the youth, and critics point at urbanization and Christianity as possible culprits.
Merveille Kavira Luneghe, GPJ Democratic Republic of Congo
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Rosario Zapata, who has been a domestic worker for nearly 35 years, stands at a window at one of her employer’s homes. She currently works in three different homes, one of which requires a two-hour commute by public transport.
Ecatepec, State of Mexico, Mexico
Rosario Zapata, who has been a domestic worker for nearly 35 years, stands at a window at one of her employer’s homes. She currently works in three different homes, one of which requires a two-hour commute by public transport.
Aline Suárez del Real, GPJ Mexico
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Motorcyclists wait in traffic during rush hour.
Kathmandu, Nepal
Motorcyclists wait in traffic during rush hour.
Yam Kumari Kandel, GPJ Nepal
Sachi Rosenthal, 16, with a megaphone, sings and dances feminist chants with other young women during the International Women’s Day march.
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Sachi Rosenthal, 16, with a megaphone, sings and dances feminist chants with other young women during the International Women’s Day march.
Lucila Pellettieri, GPJ Argentina
Uvugdorj Delger, left, with his grandchild, Ankhbayar Orgilbayar, 15, and a relative’s child, Battuvshin Batsukh, 3, herd his reindeer. Uvugdorj is Dukha, the last reindeer herders of Mongolia who live deep in the taiga of north Mongolia, where temperatures can drop to minus 53 degrees Celsius in the winter and rarely rise above 23 in the summer.
Eastern taiga of Tsagaannuur soum, Khuvsgul province, Mongolia
Uvugdorj Delger, left, with his grandchild, Ankhbayar Orgilbayar, 15, and a relative’s child, Battuvshin Batsukh, 3, herd his reindeer. Uvugdorj is Dukha, the last reindeer herders of Mongolia who live deep in the taiga of north Mongolia, where temperatures can drop to minus 53 degrees Celsius in the winter and rarely rise above 23 in the summer.
Dolgormaa Sandagdorj, GPJ Mongolia
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Jenath Pratheep places colorful chicken toys to attract customers.
Mannar, Sri Lanka
Jenath Pratheep places colorful chicken toys to attract customers.
Vetrichelvi Chandrakala, GPJ Sri Lanka
Environmental degradation caused by lithium mining. As global demand skyrockets for the metal used in batteries, outside interests have stepped in to mine, leaving locals with a stark choice between living in a mining zone and relocating.
Chiunye village in Mudzi district, Zimbabwe
Environmental degradation caused by lithium mining. As global demand skyrockets for the metal used in batteries, outside interests have stepped in to mine, leaving locals with a stark choice between living in a mining zone and relocating.
Linda Mujuru, GPJ Zimbabwe
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Modesto López Muñoz, left, Mario Muñoz Cayetano, middle, and Santos Rentería de la Cruz, right, leave offerings at the Pacific Ocean in front of Waxie tsut+a, or white stone, the morning after performing an all-night ceremony in Tatéi Haramára.
San Blas, Nayarit, Mexico
Modesto López Muñoz, left, Mario Muñoz Cayetano, middle, and Santos Rentería de la Cruz, right, leave offerings at the Pacific Ocean in front of Waxie tsut+a, or white stone, the morning after performing an all-night ceremony in Tatéi Haramára.
Maya Piedra, GPJ Mexico
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Editorial Team

Reporter: Global Press Staff
Senior Photo Editor: Charlotte Kesl
Copy Editor: Allison Braden

Publication Date

December 14, 2023
Global Press Staff Global Press Staff
GPJ Accurate