Vaclav Havel Human Rights Prize

Iranian human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh has been awarded the 2026 Vaclav Havel Human Rights Prize. Sotoudeh is known for defending women's rights activists and opposition figures in Iran, work for which she has previously been imprisoned. The prize, named after the Czech dissident and president, honours individuals who defend human rights in defiance of persecution. Reaction has highlighted her persistence in facing arrest and disbarment while continuing to represent defendants in Iran's courts.

Iranian human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh has been awarded the 2026 Vaclav Havel Human Rights Prize. Sotoudeh is known for defending women's rights activists and opposition figures in Iran and has faced repeated imprisonment for her work. The prize, named after the late Czech dissident president, honours defenders of human rights in Europe and beyond.