The winners of the 2012 World Press Photo awards have been announced in the Netherlands. Italy's Fabio Bucciarelli took second place in the spot news stories category, for this image of a Free Syrian Army fighter taken during clashes against government forces in Aleppo.

Images from the ongoing conflict in Syria were a common theme at this year's awards. Emin Ozmen from Turkey captured this harrowing scene, in which opposition forces torture and interrogate a prisoner. The 27-year-old photographer said the ordeal lasted 48 hours, during which time tired soldiers had to be replaced so the torture could continue. The captives were later released.

Housewife Aida is pictured crying while recovering from severe injuries she received when her house was shelled by the Syrian Army. Her husband and two children were fatally wounded during the shelling. The photograph was taken by Argentina's Rodrigo Abd for the Associated Press news agency, which picked up seven prizes in all.

This harrowing image of two Palestinian children killed in an Israeli missile strike being carried to their funeral won the overall prize. Jury member Mayu Mohanna said the strength of Swedish photographer Paul Hansen's shot was "the way it contrasts the anger and sorrow of the adults with the innocence of the children". She added: "It's a picture I will not forget."

Malaysia's Wei Seng Chen won the sports singles category for his photo of the Pacu Jawi bull race in Sumatra. The annual race celebrates the end of the rice harvest season, and sees jockeys encouraging their steeds to go faster by biting their tails.

The awards were established in 1955, when members of the Dutch photojournalists' union had the idea of turning their national competition – the Zilveren Camera – into an international one. This year's ceremony recognises 54 photographers of 32 nationalities, including Paul Nicklen, a Canadian photographer for National Geographic magazine, who captured images of Emperor Penguins swimming in the Ross Sea, Antarctica.

The sports features category was won by Jan Grarup of Denmark, for his series Women's Basketball, Mogadishu, Somalia. This shot shows an armed guard, paid by the Somali basketball association, watching over and protecting a basketball team as they play in Mogadishu.

Gay couple Phan Thi Thuy Vy and Dang Thi Bich Bay are the subject of Maika Elan's photograph, taken in Da Nang, Vietnam. Although homosexuality is not illegal in the country, gay couples do not enjoy the same legal rights as heterosexuals and, in 2002, the Ministry of Labour launched a campaign to have it labelled "a social evil". Elan's series, called The Pink Choice, looks at the private lives of such couples and how they "care and love each other in daily activities".

A woman pauses in the rain from her work as a trash picker at a 30-acre dump in Nairobi, Kenya. Her portrait was taken by US photojournalist Micah Albert, who was awarded first prize in the contemporary issues - single category.

First prize in the daily life stories category went to this picture of 71-year-old Mirella, taking care of her husband Luigi, who has Alzheimer's disease. "Mirella never gave up. She was convinced that her every attention could help and cure Luigi," said photographer Fausto Podavini.

Japan After The Wave won the general news stories category for Australian photographer Daniel Berehulak. His series visited Japan one year after the tsunami, which left 15,848 dead and 3,305 still living in temporary accommodation. This image shows uprooted pine trees scattered across the beach in Rikuzentakata.