Laureate 1994
Leyla Zana
Peaceful struggle for the human rights of the Kurdish people
The 1994 Rafto Prize was awarded to Leyla Zana (1961), a Kurdish parliamentarian incarcerated for her peaceful struggle for the human rights of the Kurdish people in Turkey and the neighbouring countries.
Leyla Zana symbolizes the struggle for a peaceful solution to the Kurdish conflict in Turkey. Leyla Zana was on trial in Turkey and risking capital punishment when the 1994 Rafto Prize was awarded to her. Zana was sentenced to 15 years in a Turkish prison, and a military court later sentenced her to another two years in prison.
Throughout her imprisonment, she has maintained a strong stand against all violence. Leyla Zana was released from prison in 2004. She is active in human rights issues in Turkey and working for the new party she co-founded in 2005.
Letters and reports
Other laureates
Laureate 2024
Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara
For his fearless resistance against an authoritarian regime through art
Laureate 2023
Defence for Children International-Palestine (DCIP)
Defending the rights of children living in the Occupied Palestinian Territory
Laureate 2022
Nodjigoto Charbonnel
Fighting torture and defending the human rights of torture survivors
Laureate 2021
Human Rights Data Analysis Group
Seeking justice behind the numbers
Laureate 2020
Egyptian Commission for Rights and Freedoms
Bravely resisting Egypt´s state of fear
Laureate 2019
Rouba Mhaissen
Defending the human rights of people living as refugees
Laureate 2018
Ombudsman Adam Bodnar
Defending minorities rights and judicial independence
Laureate 2017
Parveena Ahangar & Parvez Imroz
Decades of campaigning for human rights in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir
Laureate 2016
Yanar Mohammed
Defender of women's rights in war-torn Iraq
Laureate 2015
Padre Melo
A fearless voice in a violent country
Laureate 2014
Agora - Pavel Chikov
Defender of the rule of law in Russia
Laureate 2013
Bahrain Center for Human Rights
The inconvenient demand for human rights in the Gulf
Laureate 2012
Nnimmo Bassey
Defender of victims of climate change
Laureate 2011
Sexual Minorities Uganda
Defender of LGBTI rights
Laureate 2010
José Raúl Vera López
Defender of the vulnerable and the rejected
Laureate 2009
Malahat Nasibova
The brave voice of Nakhchivan
Laureate 2008
Bulambo Lembelembe Josué
Bringing hope for the victims of war
Laureate 2007
National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights
Defenders of the downtrodden
Laureate 2006
Thích Quảng Độ
Peaceful oppositon against the communist regime
Laureate 2005
Lidia Yusupova
Defender of the forgotten victims of the war in Chechnya
Laureate 2004
Rebiya Kadeer
Defender of the repressed Uyghurs
Laureate 2003
Paulos Tesfagiorgis
Lifelong work for democracy in Eritrea
Laureate 2002
Sidi Mohammed Daddach
The Sahrawi people's struggle for self determination
Laureate 2001
Shirin Ebadi
Rights for women and children under the Islamic regime
Laureate 2000
Kim Dae-jung
Giving hope of re-conciliation with North Korea
Laureate 1999
Gennady Grushevoy
Protecting the victims of the Chernobyl disaster
Laureate 1998
ECPAT
Committed to ending commercial sexual exploitation of children
Laureate 1997
Ian Hancock
Advocate for the rights and dignity of the Romani
Laureate 1996
Palermo Anno Uno
Standing up against the Mafia and organized crime
Laureate 1995
Committee of Soldiers' Mothers of Russia
Working for peace on behalf of those forced to wage war
Laureate 1993
José Ramos-Horta
Promoting independence for the people of East Timor
Laureate 1992
Preah Maha Ghosananda
Leading role in reconciling a country torn by war
Laureate 1991
Yelena Bonner
Lifelong work for political and religious freedom in the Soviet Union
Laureate 1990
Aung San Suu Kyi
Leading the struggle for democracy in Burma
Laureate 1989
Doina Cornea
Writing for freedom in a communist dictatorship
Laureate 1989
FIDESZ - Péter Molnár
Founders of a democratic Hungary
Laureate 1988
Trivimi Velliste
Reviving the past to liberate the future
Laureate 1987
Jiří Hájek
Foreign Affairs Minister of the Prague Spring and brave spokesperson for civil rights