Laureates
“Our children should not inherit silence from us.”
A prominent human rights lawyer, Nasrin Sotoudeh is one of Iran's leading women's rights activists. MORE
Nasrin Sotoudeh
of Iran
2023
2022
Alexei Navalny of Russia
Opposition leader and anti-corruption activist, Navalny is the face of resistance to the Kremlin around the world. MORE
“Don’t be inactive.”
“America's dream of a multiracial and inclusive democracy is in danger.”
An expert on the relationship between authoritarian movements and hate violence, Eric K. Ward has established hundreds of anti-hate task forces across America. MORE
2021
Eric. K. Ward of The United States
2019
“The only sword we use to reach freedom is the sword of justice.”
Gonzalo Himiob Santomé of Venezuela
Lawyer and human rights defender, Himiob is a founding member of Foro Penal, which tracks and reports crimes against humanity and provides pro bono legal assistance for victims of political persecution. MORE
“You will always find people in Russia who are prepared to stand up for truth.”
Pro-democracy activist, vice chairman of Open Russia, and chairman of the Boris Nemtsov Foundation for Freedom, Kara-Murza played a key role in the passage of the Magnitsky Act, which imposed sanctions on Russian human rights violators. MORE
Vladimir Kara-Murza
of Russia
2018
2017
The grandfather of the Burundi human rights movement, Mbonimpa is the founder of APRODH, which assists prisoners and documents government abuse. MORE
Pierre Claver Mbonimpa of Burundi
“Denouncing injustice and cases of grave human rights violations has always been our primary focus.”
2016
Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently of Syria
RBSS is a small group of activists who risk their lives daily to document and film the Islamic State’s kidnappings, torture and murders. MORE
“ISIS is afraid. It is afraid most of one idea: Liberty.”
The presiding judge in the genocide trial of Guatemala’s former dictator, Barrios confronts high-profile corruption, organized crime, and human rights abuses. MORE
Yassmin Barrios of Guatemala
2015
“When we speak of human rights, we are talking about respecting the dignity of people on the basis of their humanity…”
Claudia Paz y Paz of Guatemala
The country’s first female Attorney General, Dr. Paz y Paz significantly improved Guatemala’s notoriously corrupt justice system. MORE
2015
“For crimes of past and present, justice must be done.”
2014
Nicola Gratteri of Italy
Dedicated to working against the 'Ndrangheta organized crime syndicate, Gratteri is leading the prosecution of more than 350 of its members and allies. MORE
“I hope to see myself in the mirror without reproach.”
Nobel Prize winner and renowned gynecological surgeon, Dr. Mukwege is an activist against rape as a weapon or war and the founder of Panzi Hospital for survivors of sexual violence. MORE
“Rape is probably history's oldest and least condemned crime.”
2013
Dr. Denis Mukwege of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
2012
Pro-democracy activist and award-winning author, Yu calls himself a true patriot. MORE
Yu Jie of China
“There are far too many truths waiting to be revealed…”
2011
Triveni Acharya of India
“As long as the demand for prostitution remains, trafficking will continue.”
Journalist, activist and president of the Rescue Foundation, Acharya is committed to the rescue, rehabilitation, and repatriation of trafficked women and children and the prosecution of the perpetrators. MORE
“Until we walk the path together, I'll keep writing.”
Lydia Cacho Ribeiro of Mexico
Journalist and women’s rights activist, Cacho is famous for her exposés on sex trafficking rings, which implicate well known politicians and businessmen. MORE
2011
A leader in the struggle for peace in Iraq and the Middle East, White has worked since 2003 to reconcile Iraq’s disparate religious factions. MORE
Aminatou Haidar of Western Sahara
2009
Regularly referred to as the "Sahrawi Gandhi," Haidar advocates for Western Sahara’s independence from Morocco, and against "disappearances" and abuses of prisoners of conscience. MORE
“All we ask is…a free vote on our future political status.”
Author, journalist, and devoted advocate for peace in the Middle East, Salem is an isolated voice for tolerance in the region. MORE
“You cannot defend life unless you fall in love with it.”
Rev. Phillip Buck of North Korea
2007
Responding to a humanitarian disaster, Buck guides North Korean refugees to safety in South Korea. MORE
“Throughout history, mankind has been improved by those who lived risking their lives.”
A journalist at independent newspapers, Marques exposes the slaughter of his countrymen, the plundering of the country's wealth, and the corruption of its regime. MORE
Rafael Marques de Morais of Angola
2006
“Angola is in need of a government that protects its own people and brings them together to build a strong nation…”
Min Ko Naing of Burma
One of the founders of the All Burma Federation of Student Unions, Min Ko Naing is a leading figure in the Burmese pro-democracy movement. MORE
2005
“We understand that we sacrificed our lives so that our country and race could live with human dignity...”
Anna Politkovskaya of Russia
Critical of Vladimir Putin, Russian journalist Politkovskaya was murdered in an assault on the free press. MORE
2005
“It is in fact a miracle that I am alive today, and that I am not in prison.”
Journalist, contemporary historian, theologian, and author, Baghi exposes the government’s involvement in the assassination of Iranian intellectuals and activists. MORE
Emadeddin Baghi of Iran
2004
“I have no choice — but to persevere and do what I can do to educate and inform the Iranian people about a more fair and just way of life. I cannot stop."
Co-founder and chairman of the National Constitutional Assembly, Madhuku’s goal is to bring democracy to his country. MORE
"We will not be deterred by the beatings and the cruelty of this regime.”
Lovemore Madhuku of Zimbabwe
2004
“There is no specific religious reason why this horrific violence occurs in my country.”
The founder and head of the Progressive Women's Association, Bukhari campaigns against the systematic oppression of women, and particularly against so-called honor killings. MORE
Shahnaz Bukhari of Pakistan
2003
Co-founder of the Social Democratic Political Party, Roca lives in Cuba and works for economic and political freedom. MORE
Vladimiro Roca Antunez of Cuba
2002
“I continue to peacefully fight for gradual change towards a democratic Cuba, a free Cuba, and to promote respect for the human rights of all Cubans.”
2001
Editor of For Di People newspaper, Kamara crusades against corruption and champions freedom of the press, human rights, and democratic values. MORE
Paul Kamara of Sierra Leone
The founder and Executive Director of the Humanitarian Law Center, Kandic’s reporting of war crimes is unflinching. MORE
Natasa Kandic of the former Yugoslavia
“I have the impression that the persecuted feel less deserted if I stay with them.”
2000
“We honor the spirit of solidarity and the universal values that unite us as humanity.”
— Michelle Bachelet