The Lantos Foundation, together with Freedom Now and the Human Rights Foundation, has nominated Rwandan opposition leader Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza for the 2026 Václav Havel Human Rights Prize, recognizing her long-standing commitment to democracy, human rights, and the rule of law despite years of political persecution.
The announcement comes one year after her latest detention, which supporters and international human rights organizations describe as arbitrary and politically motivated. If selected, Ingabire would become the first African recipient of the prestigious award, highlighting both her resilience and the ongoing concerns surrounding political freedoms and the treatment of opposition figures in Rwanda.