Per Anger Prize


Per Anger Prize
The Per Anger Prize was instituted by the Swedish Government to honor the memory of ambassador Per Anger and is awarded for humanitarian work and initiatives in the name of democracy. The prize is awarded to individuals or groups who have distinguished themselves either in the past or in more recent times. The Prize is administered and awarded by the Forum for Living History.
Sl | Name | Country | Flag | Year | Awarded For |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
21 | Sithar Chhim | Cambodia | 2024 | for her tireless and dedicated work to promote democracy and respect for human rights in Cambodia. | |
20 | Malú García Andrade | Mexico | 2023 | Demanding justice for disappeared and murdered girls and women in Mexico | |
19 | Anabela Lemos | Mozambique | 2022 | Fighting for climate justice in Mozambique | |
18 | S'bu Zikode | South Africa | 2021 | Working for the rights of poor people in South Africa | |
17 | Intisar Al-Amyal | Iraq | 2020 | Fighting for women's rights in Iraq | |
16 | Najwa Alimi | Afganistan | 2019 | Fighting for freedom of speech and women's rights in Afghanistan | |
15 | Teodora del Carmen Vásquez | El Salvodor | 2018 | Fighting for women's rights in El Salvador | |
14 | Gégé Katana Bukuru | Congo | 2017 | Fighting for women's rights in the Democratic Republic of Congo | |
13 | Abdullah al-Khateeb | Syria | 2016 | Fighting for human rights in Syria | |
12 | Islena Rey Rodríguez | Colombia | 2015 | Fighting against violence and human rights violations in Colombia | |
11 | Rita Mahato | Nepal | 2014 | Fighting against sexual violence aimed towards women and girls in Nepal | |
10 | Justine Ijeomah | Nigeria | 2013 | Fighting against violation of human rights in Nigeria | |
9 | Sapiyat Magomedova | Russia | 2012 | Defending human rights in Dagestan | |
8 | Narges Mohammadi | Iran | 2011 | Working for human rights in Iran | |
7 | Elena Urlaeva | Uzbekistan | 2010 | Fighting for the freedom of expression and the freedom of assembly in Uzbekistan | |
6 | Brahim Dahane | Western Sahara | 2009 | Founder of the human rights organisation ASVDH working in Western Sahara | |
5 | Sebastian Bakare | South Africa | 2008 | Fighting the rights of the vulnerable in Zimbabwe | |
4 | Yolanda Becerra | Colombia | 2007 | Chairperson for the women's rights organisation Organización Femenina Popular | |
3 | Ales Bialiatski | Belarus | 2006 | The human rights fighter acting against the Belarusian regime | |
2 | Arsen Sakalov | Russia | 2005 | The teacher who became a human rights activist in the Russian autonomous republic Ingushia | |
1 | Gennaro Verolino | Italy | 2004 | Saved over 30,000 Jews from the Holocaust |

Per Anger Prize Laureates (2030 ~ 2021)

Sithar Chhim
Per Anger Prize 2024
"Sithar Chhim has been awarded this year's Per Anger Prize for her tireless and dedicated work to promote democracy and respect for human rights in Cambodia.
As a union leader, in a country ruled by an autocratic regime where human rights defenders are constantly under attack, she demands that employers comply with the law and that the State uphold it. Because of this, she is now imprisoned.
She is a vital source of support for Cambodian women who are forced to work under appalling conditions. They are demanding to have their voices heard and their rights respected at their places of work.
Even though Sithar Chhim has endured harassment, threats, and violence for years, her fight for justice continues, but refuses to give up. Even in prison, she encourages and supports her fellow inmates.
Her enormous courage and dedication are an inspiration. As a young female leader, she is a role model for us all."

Malú García Andrade
Per Anger Prize 2023
María Luisa García Andrade shows enormous courage in her fight for all the women who have disappeared and been murdered in Mexico. In an extremely violent environment, she demands that the state investigates femicides and that the guilty are sentenced. She works tirelessly to provide support for affected families, pushes for legal reforms, and refuses to give up even after she and her family have been forced to live in hiding. Her determination and unconditional courage is inspiring and provides hope for change.
Nine international organizations participated in the nomination work for this year's Per Anger Prize: Afrikagrupperna, Amnesty International, Civil Rights Defenders, Diakonia, The Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation, IM – Swedish Development Partner, Save the Children, We Effect and the Church of Sweden.

Anabela Lemos
Per Anger Prize 2022
"For more than 20 years, Anabela Lemos has fought for climate justice in Mozambique. Despite receiving threats, she pursues her fight against multinational companies that destroy and exploit the land of small-scale farmers and force them from their homes. The efforts of Anabela Lemos clearly show that human rights and climate justice are tightly linked.”
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Per Anger Prize Laureates (2020 ~ 2011)

Intisar Al-Amyal
Per Anger Prize 2020
Intisar Al-Amyal fights for women's rights in Iraq – a country where patriarchy, traditions, and sectarianism lead to discrimination and violence against women. Despite threats, she has documented human rights abuses for 20 years. She shines a light on domestic violence, child marriages, and honor killings. She raises awareness of the pressing needs of women and girls victimized by the Islamic State and other extremist groups.
Today, Intisar Al-Amyal is a leading figure in the Iraqi women's rights organization "Iraqi Women's League" (IWL). By way of a range of educational programs, she works to ensure access to education for all children and youth, and champions the right of rural women to learn to read and write. She stresses that women and youth must participate in political life in order for equality, democracy and peace to become a reality in a future Iraq.

Najwa Alimi
Per Anger Prize 2019
With great courage and risk to her own life, journalist Najwa Alimi fights for the right of women to be seen and their stories to be heard in Afghanistan. In her country, many women are unable to leave their homes, let alone work and be seen on TV. She is also engaged in giving young girls access to books, in order to break their isolation through literature. She provides hope for a new generation of Afghan girls and boys.

Teodora del Carmen Vásquez
Per Anger Prize 2018
"Teodora del Carmen Vásquez is the recipient of the 2018 Per Anger Prize for her struggle for the rights of women to sexual and reproductive health in El Salvador – one of the world's most conservative countries when it comes to abortion. She has turned personal pain into a force that provides support and hope for many girls and women in her home country. To continue fighting after ten years in prison is not only astounding, it also requires great courage. Teodora del Carmen Vásquez is an inspiration to us all."
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Gégé Katana Bukuru
Per Anger Prize 2017
Gégé Katana Bukuru has spent many years fighting for women's human rights in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The country has been ravaged hard by war since the 1990s, which often has ethnic overtones. More than 5 million people have died and close to 4 million have been driven from their homes. One particularly vulnerable area is South Kivu where Gégé Katana Bukuru lives. She works to strengthen women's rights through the organization called SOFAD (Solidarité des Femmes Activistes pour la Défense des Droits Humains).

Abdullah al-Khateeb
Per Anger Prize 2016
"Abdullah al-Khateeb is awarded the prize for his courageous struggle for human rights and humanitarian law in Syria. In the middle of an ongoing war and in the purgatory between combating forces, he documents violations, negotiates between different ethnic groups and takes on the role of spokesperson for those most vulnerable. Putting his life on the line, he works in the spirit of Per Anger".
Abdullah al-Khateeb was awarded the Per Anger Prize for 2016 after being nominated by the International Commission of Jurists, ICJ-Sweden.

Islena Rey Rodríguez
Per Anger Prize 2015
The Per Anger prizewinner of 2015 is Colombian human rights activist Islena Rey Rodríguez, who receives the award for her sustained struggle against violence and infringements of human rights in one of the country's most dangerous regions. The nomination organization is Diakonia.
Islena Rey Rodríguez is the chair of the human rights committee in the Meta department of Columbia. She faces constant death threats and has survived several attempts on her life.
The human rights organization Comite Civico por los Derechos Humanos del Meta, CCDHM, was founded in 1989. It's a forum for human rights organizations, community leaders, doctors and labor unions. The organization provides legal assistance and supports efforts to report violent crimes and human rights offenses. Islena is the only one of the original founding members left. All the others have been murdered or forced into exile. That's why she's called "the one who survived".

Rita Mahato
Per Anger Prize 2014
"The Per Anger Prize 2014 is awarded to the Nepalese human rights defender Rita Mahato for her persistent fight against sexual violence against women and girls in a patriarchal, violent and socially disadvantaged society. Despite the fact that she and her family are constantly exposed to serious threats, she continues the fight to strengthen the human rights of Nepalese women."

Justine Ijeomah
Per Anger Prize 2013
"For having persistently fought against human rights abuses, especially among the poor and poorly educated, in a context of brutal police violence as well as beatings, death threats and murder attempts, and for doggedly working to abolish the death penalty, Justine Ijeomah of Nigeria is awarded the Per Anger Prize for 2013.”
Interview with Justine Ijeomah about her project "Human Rights Passport"

Per Anger Prize Laureates (2010 ~ 2001)

Elena Urlaeva
Per Anger Prize 2010
"The Per Anger Prize for 2010 is awarded to Elena Urlaeva from Uzbekistan for her peaceful and unselfish struggle for human rights in her home country. At the risk of her own life in hostile surroundings, she has given voice to the freedoms of expression and association in Uzbekistan. Selflessly and through peaceful means and with great personal sacrifice, she has risked her own life and well-being in the struggle for human rights.”

Sebastian Bakare
Per Anger Prize 2008
Bishop Sebastian Bakare, representative of the Anglican Church in Zimbabwe, is awarded the Per Anger Prize for 2008. Our citation reads as follows: For having given voice to the fight against oppression and for freedom of speech and of opinion in a difficult political situation, through courage and personal sacrifice, Bishop Sebastian Bakare is awarded the 2008 Per Anger Prize for humanitarian and democracy-promoting work.
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Arsen Sakalov
Per Anger Prize 2005
"For having shown, through considerable amounts of personal courage and self-sacrifice, that inhumanity and lawlessness can be fought through compassion and justice, Arsen Sakalov is awarded the 2005 Per Anger Prize for humanitarian and democracy-enhancing efforts."