The selection panel of the Václav Havel Human Rights Prize has nnounced the shortlist for the 2026 award. Meeting in Prague, the panel – made up of independent figures from the world of human rights and chaired by Petra Bayr, the President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) – decided to shortlist, in alphabetical order, the following three nominees:
Masih Alinejad is an Iranian‑American journalist, author and women’s rights activist who has become one of the most prominent voices of the Iranian opposition in exile. She launched the “My stealthy freedom” campaign against compulsory hijab laws, which grew into a global movement supporting the “Women, life, freedom” protests. She co‑founded the World Liberty Congress and United against gender apartheid and has been recognised with multiple international awards. Her work has helped draw global attention to the repression of women and journalists in Iran, highlighting the crucial role of independent voices in defending human rights and democratic freedoms.
Márta Pardavi is a Hungarian human rights lawyer and co‑chair of the Hungarian Helsinki Committee, a leading organisation defending the rights of asylum‑seekers, refugees and other foreigners in need of international protection. She has long monitored the human rights performance of law enforcement and the judiciary and spoken out against laws which shrink the space for civil society and restrict NGO funding in Hungary. Through decades of advocacy and legal action, she has helped protect vulnerable people at Europe’s borders and uphold the rule of law in the face of growing pressures.
Nasrin Sotoudeh is a leading human rights lawyer in Iran who has represented activists, journalists, minorities and children facing execution, while campaigning against compulsory hijab laws and the death penalty, despite repeated arrests, lengthy imprisonment and severe personal risk. She was again arrested in April 2026 and released on bail in May 2026, amid ongoing concerns about her safety and the broader crackdown on independent lawyers and human rights defenders. Her steadfast commitment to justice, even under harsh state repression, has made her a symbol of courage and resilience for human rights defenders and pro‑democracy movements in Iran and beyond.
All three candidates are already recipients of human rights awards, Sotoudeh with 10 is the best known. see: https://trueheroesfilms.com/engage/heroes/
For more on the Václav Havel Human Rights Prize and its laureates see https://trueheroesfilms.com/equip/digest/?sort=most
Hans Thoolen on Human Rights Defenders and their awards 
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