IBA Award for Outstanding Contribution by a Legal Practitioner to Human Rights
Supported by LexisNexis
The IBA annually presents an award to an outstanding lawyer in the world of human rights law. The award is free to enter and it is open to all lawyers, whether or not they are members of the IBA.
Application details
Each year, the IBA presents an award to an outstanding lawyer in the world of human rights law.
Applications are now closed. If you have any questions, please contact divisions@int-bar.org
The IBA has always been dedicated to promoting and protecting human rights and the independence of the legal profession under a just rule of law. The International Bar Association's Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) was established in 1995 under the honorary presidency of Nelson Mandela. The IBAHRI is an independent entity within the Public and Professional Interest Division (PPID) of the IBA. The Section on Public and Professional Interest (SPPI) sits within the PPID and within that entity, there is also a Human Rights Committee.
The award will be made to a legal practitioner (whether in private practice, public interest, employment as a legal adviser, academia, bar leadership or other regulation of the profession) who, through personal endeavour in the course of such practice, is deemed to have made an outstanding contribution to the promotion, protection and advancement of the human rights of all, or any group of, people, particularly with respect to their right to live in a fair and just society under the rule of law.
2025 Recipient
Egyptian human rights lawyer Hoda Abdel-Moneim is the winner of the 2025 International Bar Association (IBA) Award for Outstanding Contribution by a Legal Practitioner to Human Rights. The Award recognises her remarkable dedication to defending fundamental freedoms and advancing justice, particularly in the areas of women’s rights, children’s rights and the fight against enforced disappearances.
Ms Abdel-Moneim was unable to receive the Award in person as she remains unjustly imprisoned in Egypt despite completing a five-year sentence in October 2023.
Her daughter, Gehad Badawy, recorded a message accepting the Award on behalf of her mother. 'On behalf of my mother, I am honoured to accept this award, hoping it will be a step towards her freedom and the message that defending human rights should be rewarded, not punished. I thank you all for your support and I ask everyone who hears me today to raise my mother’s case and the cases of all the human rights defenders who face the same fate and risk. You can write about them on social media, send letters to decision makers and show that you reject these practices against them. May we soon celebrate my mother’s freedom, and the freedom of all political prisoners.’ Watch the video here.
Read morePrevious Recipients
Abukar Hassan Ahmed
Presented with the Award for his dedication to the fight for human rights and the rule of law in Somalia, speaking out against the brutal Siad Barre regime and defending people arrested for their political beliefs.Abdolfattah Soltani, Iran
Presented with the Award for his courage and commitment to the rule of law and human rights in Iran, enduring long-term prison sentences, harassment, and intimidation for providing pro-bono legal counsel to those in need.Ivan Velasquez Gomez, Colombia
Presented with the Award for his commitment to human rights and justice and his courage working on parliamentary transparency and organised crime.Clive Stafford Smith, United Kingdom
Presented with the Award for his commitment to bringing legal rights to the most vulnerable and to those who cannot afford representation. In addition, for his work defending individuals on death row, ensuring due process and justice for those wrongly convicted.George Bizos, South Africa
Presented with the Award for his outstanding contribution to human rights law in South Africa. Nelson Mandela, one of the many who nominated Mr Bizos said, ‘I know of no person more worthy for this honour’.