Václav Havel Prize

Iranian human-rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh has been awarded the 2026 Václav Havel Human Rights Prize by the Council of Europe. Sotoudeh, known for defending women's rights activists and opposition figures in Iran and for serving prison time for her work, is recognised for her decades-long defence of fundamental freedoms. The award honours individuals committed to protecting human rights in the spirit of the late Czech dissident president.

Iranian human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh has been awarded the Václav Havel Human Rights Prize, honouring her decades of work defending women, political prisoners and dissidents in Iran. Sotoudeh, who has spent years in prison for her advocacy, is among the most prominent rights defenders in the country, and the award is seen as international recognition of her perseverance despite continued pressure from Iranian authorities.