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 be part of the 2026 promotion of the Marianne Initiative for human rights defenders. Their selection was made by a selection committee composed by qualified personnalities from the human rights ecosystem, ensuring the excellence and the diversity of the selected profiles.

The fifth edition was launched on February 23rd 2026 during an event hosted in the house of the Barreau de Paris.

For 18 weeks, the laureates attend a tailor-made formation program, structured and demanding, conceived to help them facing the issues in their commitment. The formation includes : project management, advocacy, physical security, technical investigation on human rights violation, negociation and leadership, many meetings with experts, institutions representatives and associative experts. The program is made to strenghten their capacities while developping their network, in the french and european human rights ecosystem.

During this program, the laureates will have the opportunity to go to Bruxelles, to discover european institutions and Geneve, in the United Nations instances. These visits are key moments to develop international discussion and implement their actions in global dynamics.

This year, the fights held by the laureates are focused around 3 themes : women's rights, LGBT+ rights and fight against death penalty. Three laureates have specifically been selected for their commitment in this last theme. Their participation is part of the organisation by France of the 9th World Congress against death penalty, which will occure in June 2026, to streghten the syneries betwen the program and this major international event.

The Marianne Initiative is poud to continue its commitment with these 12 laureates who are very inspiring by their commitments et their actions in their home countries : Ammar AL SALAMA (Syria) ; Eva AMEGBOH (Ivory Coast) ; 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).