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Human rights defender and Executive Director of Bangladesh Nari Sramik Kendra (BNSK), Ms. Sumaiya Islam, has been awarded the 2025 Franco-German Award for Human Rights and the Rule of Law.
Ambassadors of France and Germany to Bangladesh, Mr. Jean-Marc Séré-Charlet and Dr. Rüdiger Lotz, presented the award to Sumaiya Islam at a special ceremony held on Wednesday at the Franco-German Embassy in Dhaka, on the occasion of International Human Rights Day.
Since 2016, France and Germany have used International Human Rights Day to jointly honour 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, transgender persons, and others who are socially and economically marginalised.
“It is a great honour, and I am truly grateful and deeply happy to receive this Franco-German Human Rights Prize. Since 1987, I have been engaged in activism, campaigns, and advocacy, and later established a full-fledged civil society organisation in Bangladesh to uphold and promote human rights” Sumaiya Islam said, while receiving the prize.
“Today, on the 10th of December, France celebrates the universality of human rights, proclaimed in the 1948 Declaration adopted in Paris, as well as the last day of the 16 Days of Activism against sexual and gender-based violence. As the timeline illustrates, there can be no human rights without women’s rights. France continues to support human rights defenders worldwide and whole-heartedly congratulates Sumaiya Islam for receiving the 2025 Franco-German Award for Human Rights and the Rule of Law. We hope her commitment will inspire others to uphold human rights and advance gender equality in Bangladesh and across the globe,” Ambassador of France Jean-Marc Séré-Charlet said, while presenting the award.
“We are deeply pleased that this year’s Franco-German Prize for Human Rights and the Rule of Law honours a Bangladeshi activist whose work reflects the courage and commitment found in communities across this country. Grassroots defenders play an essential role in protecting rights, strengthening accountability, and giving voice to those who are too often unheard. Their efforts are vital for advancing gender equality, inclusive development, and a more just society. Germany and France remain steadfast in supporting those who work every day to uphold human dignity. We warmly congratulate this year’s laureate from Bangladesh on this well-deserved recognition,” Ambassador of Germany Dr. Rüdiger Lotz added.
Previously, the prize was awarded to Adilur Rahman Khan, founder of Odhikar, in 2017. He was the second Bangladeshi recipient, following Tahmina Rahman of Article 19 in 2016.