Five courageous human rights defenders receive Front Line Defenders Award
Laureates hail from Benin, Dominican Republic/Haiti, Thailand, Uzbekistan and Western Sahara
Front Line Defenders is pleased to announce the five winners of its prestigious 2025 Award for Human Rights Defenders at Risk, which was presented at a special ceremony in Dublin this morning.
Laureates from each of the major global regions (or their representatives) traveled to Ireland to accept the Award, including:
- Africa: Luc Agblakou of Hirondelle Club International (Benin)
- Americas: The Movement for Human Rights, Peace and Global Justice (MONDHA) (Dominican Republic / Haiti)
- Asia and the Pacific: Arnon Nampa of Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (Thailand)
- Europe and Central Asia: Sharifa Madrakhimova (Uzbekistan)
- Middle East and North Africa: Mhamed Hali (Western Sahara)
“In a world that has become harsher for human rights defenders, these five courageous individuals and organisations face tremendous risks while carrying out their peaceful work to uphold the rights of their communities,” said Alan Glasgow, Executive Director of Front Line Defenders.
“These laureates are rays of light in some very dark situations of repression, discrimination and detention. Their steadfast commitment to human rights provides the solutions we need to brink humanity back from the brink, and to create a better, more just world. Governments must begin to see human rights defenders, not as a threat to their grasp on power, but as positive changemakers who can improve societies and defend the human rights of their citizens.”
The Annual Front Line Defenders Award for Human Rights Defenders at Risk was established in 2005 to honour the work of HRDs who are courageously making outstanding contributions to the promotion and protection of the human rights of others, often at great personal risk to themselves. The Award focuses international attention on the work and struggles of HRDs, providing a greater national and international platform to speak about and advocate for the human rights issues they are defending.
This year’s laureates were selected from among hundreds of candidates put forward in a secure, public nomination process carried out between November 2024 and January 2025. In addition to a cash prize aimed at bolstering their protection, the winners receive support from Front Line Defenders on digital and physical security, advocacy, visibility, wellbeing and more.
The laureates received the Award at a ceremony at Dublin’s City Hall, which was attended by foreign diplomats and representatives of the Irish government and Department of Foreign Affairs, civil society and media organisations among others. Irish parliamentary patrons for the Award included: Senator Malcolm Noonan, Senator Patricia Stephenson, Barry Ward TD, Cormac Devlin TD, Ivana Bacik TD, and Sean Crowe TD.
The 2025 Front Line Defenders Award winners
Africa
Luc Agblakou is a human rights educator and defender for LGBTIQ+ rights in Benin. He is the Founding President of Hirondelle Club International, the first LGBTIQ+ organisation promoting integration in the country. His work has led to the inclusion of LGBTIQ+ people in the strategic plan to combat HIV/AIDS in Benin as well as court rulings promoting the protection of the LGBTIQ+ community.
Americas
The Movement for Human Rights, Peace and Global Justice (MONDHA), representing the Dominican Republic and Haiti, is a non-governmental organisation (NGO) founded in 2005 with the aim of improving the living conditions of vulnerable communities, with a particular focus on women and young people in these communities. MONDHA's work is particularly strong in support of people of Haitian descent. To achieve this goal, they implement human development programmes related to community health, legal aid, human rights and education for communities and people of Haitian descent.
Asia and the Pacific
Arnon Nampa is a human rights lawyer who volunteers with Thai Lawyers for Human Rights. TLHR was established in 2014 to provide legal assistance to alleged violators of lèse-majesté (insulting the monarchy) and HRDs targeted by the authorities following the military coup of 22 May 2014. Arnon Nampa has defended numerous individuals accused of lèse-majesté under Article 112 of the Criminal Code, including the cases of several jailed HRDs.
Europe and Central Asia
Sharifa Madrakhimova is an Uzbekistani woman human rights defender, journalist, and respected community leader from the Fergana region. As a freelance reporter, she collaborates with various media outlets in Uzbekistan.
Middle East and North Africa
Mhamed Hali from Western Sahara is a dedicated human rights defender and a member of the Sahrawi Association of Victims of Grave Human Rights Violations committed by the Moroccan State (ASVDH). He holds a doctorate in international humanitarian law, and currently serves as the Secretary General of the Association for the Protection of Sahrawi Prisoners in Moroccan Prisons (LPPS).
