Sumaiya Islam wins Franco-German Award for Human Rights

Sumaiya Islam, executive director of Bangladesh Nari Sramik Kendra (BNSK), has been awarded the 2025 Franco-German Award for Human Rights and Rule of Law.

Ambassadors of France and Germany to Bangladesh, Jean-Marc Séré-Charlet and Dr. Rüdiger Lotz, presented the award to Sumaiya Islam at a ceremony at the Franco-German Embassy in Dhaka on Wednesday, on the occasion of International Human Rights Day.

Since 2016, France and Germany have used International Human Rights Day to jointly honor individuals around the world who demonstrate exceptional commitment to promoting and defending fundamental rights and freedoms.

Sumaiya Islam received the award for her long-standing dedication to advancing the rights of women - particularly migrant workers, sex workers, and transgender persons, who are socially and economically marginalised.

"It is a great honour. Since 1987, I have been engaged in activism, campaigns, and advocacy, and later established a full-fledged civil society organization in Bangladesh to uphold and promote human rights" Sumaiya Islam said.