Vaclav Havel Human Rights Prize

Iranian human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh has been awarded the 2026 Vaclav Havel Human Rights Prize. Sotoudeh, long recognized for defending women's rights activists and political prisoners in Iran despite repeated imprisonment, receives one of Europe's most prominent human rights honors. The award highlights ongoing concerns about the treatment of lawyers and dissidents in Iran and renews international attention on her case.

Iranian human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh has been awarded the 2026 Vaclav Havel Human Rights Prize. Sotoudeh, long known for defending women's rights activists and opposition figures in Iran and for spending years in prison herself, is being recognised for her continuing work despite sustained pressure from Iranian authorities.