Marianne Initiative, Act V

With more than 900 applications received, a record number since the creation of the program, 12 laureates have been selected to join the 2026 class of the Marianne Initiative for human rights defenders. Their selection was made by a committee composed of qualified personalities from the human rights ecosystem, ensuring excellence and diversity in the selected profiles.

The fifth edition was officially launched on February 23, 2026, during an event organized at the Paris Bar. lancée le 23 février 2026, lors d’un événement organisé à la maison du Barreau de Paris.

For 18 weeks, the winners follow a tailor-made training program, structured and demanding, designed to meet the concrete challenges of their commitment. This course includes: modules tailored to their needs: project management, advocacy, physical security, investigation techniques and investigations into human rights violations, a seminar dedicated to negotiation and leadership, and numerous meetings with experts, institutional representatives and associative actors. This system aims to strengthen their skills while developing their network, at the heart of the French and European human rights ecosystems.

As part of the programme, the laureates will have the opportunity to visit Brussels, the European institutions and Geneva, within the United Nations bodies. These trips are key moments to promote international dialogue and the anchoring of their actions in global dynamics.

This year, the struggles of the laureates are focused on three main themes: defending women’s rights, promoting LGBT+ rights and fighting against the death penalty. Three winners were specifically selected for their commitment to the latter theme. Their participation is part of the organization by France of the 9th World Congress against the death penalty, scheduled for next June, in order to strengthen synergies between the program and this high-level international event.

The Marianne Initiative is proud to continue its commitment alongside these 12 laureates who, through their commitments and actions in their home countries, are a source of inspiration for all: : Ammar AL SALAMA (Syria) ; Eva AMEGBOH (Côte d’Ivoire) ; Anan BOUAPHA (Laos) ; Nicole FONG (Malaysia) ; Aigerim KAMIDOLA (Kazakhstan) ; Geoffrey MAYAMBA (Zambia) ; Maitreyi MISRA (India) ; Marie RAZAFIARISOA (Madagascar) ; Obdulia RODRIGUEZ (Mexico) ; Anna ROMANDASH (Ukraine) ; Ulrich SOUROU (Benin) ; Gafidyn Rae WESONGA (Uganda).