Martin Ennals

Award 2021
2021 Edition

Watch The Ceremony

Tune in and view the 2021 Martin Ennals Award Ceremony 

Meet the Finalists 

2021

Finalist

Loujain AlHathloul

Saudi Arabia
Loujain AlHathloul is a pioneer Saudi activist and a women’s rights defender. Loujain was arrested and detained after campaigning for the #Women2drive movement and the end of the male guardianship system. Tortured, denied medical care, and subjected to solitary confinement, Loujain was sentenced to several years in prison on December 28, 2020.

2021

Finalist

Soltan Achilova

Turkmenistan
In Turkmenistan, one of the world’s most isolated countries, freedom of speech is inexistant and independent journalists work at their own peril. Soltan Achilova, a photojournalist, documents the human rights abuses and social issues affecting Turkmen people in their daily lives. She is one of the very few reporters in the country daring to sign independent articles.

2021

Laureate

Yu Wensheng

China
In China, more than 300 human rights activists and lawyers disappeared or were arrested in 2015 during the so called 709 Crackdown. A successful business lawyer, Yu Wensheng gave up his career to defend one of the detained lawyers, before being arrested himself. Detained for three years now, Yu Wensheng’s health is failing.

WATCH THE PRESS CONFERENCE

THE SPEAKERS

Patrick Chappatte
Cartoonist and Board Member of the Martin Ennals Foundation
Philippe Currat
Chair of the Martin Ennals Foundation
Isabel de Sola
Director of the Martin Ennals Foundation
Alfonso Gomez
Member of the Executive - City of Geneva
Catherine Sommer
Master of Ceremony, Journalist and Producer
Gaspard Sommer
Musician and Composer © Nadia Tarra
Hans Thoolen
Chair of the Jury
Junior Ballet de Genève
Nada Al-Nashif
United Nations Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights
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