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human rights defenders
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- 1Václav Havel Prize 2026 goes to Nasrin Sotoudeh▼2026 Václav Havel Prize awarded to Iranian human-rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh
Iranian human-rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh has been awarded the 2026 Václav Havel Prize, announced by the Council of Europe. Sotoudeh is known for defending women's rights activists and political prisoners in Iran and has faced repeated imprisonment for her work. The prize honours outstanding defenders of human rights in Europe and beyond, and the award is being widely noted as recognition of her continued activism despite years of persecution.
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The Guardian reports that the Vietnamese government is accused of abducting human rights activists. The claim, made public through the newspaper's coverage, alleges that authorities in Vietnam have taken activists against their will. The report has drawn attention to the country's treatment of dissidents and human rights defenders.
- 3How human rights activists are prosecuted abroad●How human rights activists are prosecuted abroad | D+C - Development + Cooperation
D+C, the Development and Cooperation publication, has published a piece examining how governments overseas pursue legal action against human rights activists. The report looks at the methods used to prosecute or otherwise silence defenders of civil liberties abroad. Beyond the headline, no further details on the countries, cases or individuals involved were available in the source material.
- 4Six Turkish human rights defenders face trial in late September▼Turkey: Six Human Rights Association (İHD) members to stand trial on 29 September and 2 October after months in pre-trial detention
Six members of Turkey's Human Rights Association (İHD) are due to stand trial on 29 September and 2 October after spending months in pre-trial detention. The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) is highlighting the case, drawing attention to concerns about the prosecution of rights defenders in Turkey and the prolonged detention of the accused before their hearings begin.
- 5Iranian Lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh Wins Václav Havel Human Rights Prize▼Iranian Lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh Awarded Václav Havel Human Rights Prize
Iranian human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh has been awarded the Václav Havel Human Rights Prize. Sotoudeh, known for defending women's rights activists and political prisoners in Iran and for serving prison time for her work, is one of the country's most prominent rights defenders. The award honours individuals committed to defending human rights in Europe and beyond, and news of the honour is being reported across international media.
- 6Nasrin Sotoudeh wins 2026 Vaclav Havel Human Rights Prize▼Iranian human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh wins the 2026 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 political prisoners in Iran, work that has led to repeated arrests and prison sentences. The award honors individuals defending human rights in the spirit of the late Czech dissident president.
- 7PACE Awards Nasrin Sotoudeh Václav Havel Human Rights Prize▼PACE Awards Iranian Lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh the Václav Havel Human Rights Prize
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) has awarded Iranian human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh the Václav Havel Human Rights Prize. Sotoudeh, known for defending women's rights activists and opponents of mandatory veiling in Iran, has faced repeated imprisonment for her work. The award recognises her longstanding defence of civil liberties and is expected to draw criticism from Tehran.
- 8Malaysia begins repatriation of Myanmar asylum seekers●Malaysia begins controversial repatriation of asylum seekers to Myanmar
Malaysia has started repatriating asylum seekers to Myanmar, a move rights groups have long warned could put returnees at risk. The operation involves people held in Malaysian immigration detention, many of whom fled Myanmar following the February 2021 military coup. Critics say the deportations violate international protections against refoulement, while Malaysian authorities have defended the action as a lawful immigration matter.
- 9Ukrainian activists urge Council of Europe to raise civilian prisoners issue●Питання цивільних бранців РФ має звучати на всіх переговорах - українські активісти у ПАРЄ Українські правозахисники, зв
Ukrainian human rights defenders, former civilian prisoners released from Russian captivity, and relatives of people still held by Russia addressed the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, calling on European politicians to raise the release of civilian prisoners at every negotiation with Moscow. The activists argue that the fate of unlawfully detained civilians must be a standing item on all negotiation agendas.
- 10Overcrowded Asian jails leaving thousands languishing in detention●Too many people are languishing in jails throughout Asia
A report from the Catholic news outlet UCA News argues that prisons across Asia are holding far too many people in poor conditions, with defendants and prisoners often stuck in prolonged detention. The piece highlights overcrowding, slow judicial processes and the plight of marginalised inmates as urgent human rights concerns that regional governments have failed to address.