An unforgettable image of a maimed Afghan girl, whose nose and ears were cut off by the Taliban, has won the Photo of the Year Award from the World Press, one of the most coveted prizes in photojournalism.

South African photographer Jodi Bieber is this year’s recipient of the prestigious award for her heartbreaking photograph of 18 year-old Bibi Aisha, a woman in Afghanistan who was brutally mutilated by Taliban family members after fleeing an abusive marriage.

The disturbing portrait sparked a worldwide debate over the ethics of publishing such shocking material when it was chosen for the cover of Time Magazine in August last year. However, judges from the World Press felt it was exactly this quality that made it such an arresting photograph.

“It’s a very hard picture to look at, but your eyes keep coming back to it,” said David Burnett, jury chair for the World Press Photo competition. “It’s a difficult picture to engage with, because it’s so uncomfortable, but it does what a good photograph should do — draw you in.”

While the image draws attention to worldwide violence against women, it also manages to show Aisha maintaining her sense of dignity. For Bieber, this photograph was an attempt to capture her indomitable spirit. “When I saw Aisha and grabbed my camera, I realized that the girl was beautiful,” she said. “I thought that I didn’t want to portray her as a victim. I wanted a picture that would show this woman’s beauty.”

As for Aisha herself, she has since moved to New York City and is receiving reconstructive surgery to repair her injuries. To hear more about her amazing story, and to listen to Jodi Bieber’s jubilant real-time reaction to the news of her award, click here.