2025

Zabib Musa Loro Bakhit is a women’s rights leader with more than 10 years of experience in fragile, post-conflict, and resource-poor settings.  Ms. Bakhit has held several leadership positions at the national and regional levels, including Regional Board Member to the Strategic Initiative in the Horn of Africa Network, former […]

Namini Wijedasa, an award-winning journalist with over 30 years of experience, began her career chronicling the human toll of Sri Lanka’s civil conflict and giving voice to those affected by its aftermath.  Over time, her focus shifted to combating corruption through investigative reporting, bringing critical accountability issues to the forefront

Major Velena Iga has been a key figure in combating violence against women, sorcery accusation-related violence, and trafficking in persons in Papua New Guinea for over a decade.  Her work spans advocacy, training, and direct case management, establishing her as a trusted advisor, counselor, and leader.  Major Iga’s initiatives, such

Human rights defender Ms. Henriette Da is a sociologist by training and an expert in human rights, women’s rights, and development.  With diverse professional experiences, Ms. Da started as a socio-anthropological researcher in the health sector before becoming a public high school and college instructor.  She is also a founding

Georgiana Pascu has dedicated her career to promoting access to accountability and recognition of human rights for institutionalized children and adults with psychosocial and intellectual disabilities.  Through monitoring visits, research, training, and legal and media advocacy, she works alongside legal and psychosocial professionals to support the de-institutionalization and rights of

Angelique Songco, better known as “Mama Ranger,” leads a small team of rangers protecting the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park from illegal fishing and poaching.  The reef ecosystem supports over 360 species of coral and almost 700 species of fish and is a significant source of economic benefit to the Philippines

Amit Soussana uses her voice to courageously advocate for survivors by using her own lived example to describe the trauma she suffered as a hostage of the October 7th attack in Israel.  Ms. Soussana has raised awareness of the conditions faced by the women, men, girls, and boys who remain

Amat Al-Salam Abdullah Abdo Al-Hajj, founder and president of the Abductees’ Mothers Association, continues to be a powerful voice in bringing international attention to the plight of thousands of Yemeni detainees and their families.  Ms. Hajj – using her association’s unique approach of mobilizing families and demanding accountability for violations