🔸The selection committee for the «Václav Havel» Human Rights Award announced on Tuesday, 10 Shahrivar, that Nasrin Sotoudeh and Masih Alinejad, two Iranian human rights activists, and Marta Pardavi, a Hungarian human rights activist, are the final nominees for this award in 2026.

🔸Named after «Václav Havel», the former president of the Czech Republic, the award has been given since 2013 by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. It honors outstanding civil society actions in defense of human rights in Europe and beyond.

🔸The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe is an institution made up of 46 countries that plays a monitoring role for democracy and human rights across the European continent.

🔸In announcing the selection by the committee, the president of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe paid tribute to all human rights defenders who «sometimes remain, at the cost of their own lives, to protect and promote fundamental freedoms and durable human rights.»

🔸Petra Beyer said: «This year’s selection highlights the essential role of women human rights defenders and also their incredible courage.»

🔸Last year, the award was granted to Maksym Butkoyvch, a Ukrainian journalist.