Photo: Hans Jørgen Brun
Laureate 2003

Paulos Tesfagiorgis

Lifelong work for democracy in Eritrea

The 2003 Rafto Prize was awarded to Paulos Tesfagiorgis (1947) for his efforts to improve the rights and democratic influence of the people of Eritrea.

By awarding Tesfagiorgis the Rafto Prize, the Rafto Foundation gave their support to Eritreans who fight, by using non-violent means, against oppression and the militarization of the Eritrean society

Tesfagiorgis fought for his people by establishing the only PFDJ licensed Regional Centre for Human Rights and Development in Eritrea. (The People's Front for Democracy and Justice) Tesfagiorgis was also co-founder and head of the Eritrean Relief Association during the Eritrean war of independence. Following Eritrean independence he was appointed to the commission which drafted Eritrea's constitution. The constitution was ratified in 1997. In 2002 Tesfagiorgis and 17 other Eritreans set up the "Citizens Initiative for the Salvation of Eritrea" (CISE)

From his exile in London, and later in South Africa,Tesfagiorgis has been working for the advocacy organisation Justice Africa, and has spent much time working for agreement among other Eritrean dissidents on a non-violent democratic alternative for Eritrea. He believes that only democratically elected governments have legitimacy, because they are always accountable to the people they govern. For this reason he also abstains from violence. In June 2015 a United Nations Commission of Inquiry accused President Afwerki of systematic, widespread and gross human rights violations that may constitute crimes against humanity.

Other laureates

Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara
Laureate 2024

Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara

For his fearless resistance against an authoritarian regime through art

Nettsak DCIP
Laureate 2023

Defence for Children International-Palestine (DCIP)

Defending the rights of children living in the Occupied Palestinian Territory

Nodjigoto Charbonnel LOWRES
Laureate 2022

Nodjigoto Charbonnel

Fighting torture and defending the human rights of torture survivors

Rafto Fotografering 2021 211112 3289 Foto Hans Jørgen Brun Edit copy
Laureate 2021

Human Rights Data Analysis Group

Seeking justice behind the numbers

Ecrf Square
Laureate 2020

Egyptian Commission for Rights and Freedoms

Bravely resisting Egypt´s state of fear

Laureate 2019 Rouba Mhaissen
Laureate 2019

Rouba Mhaissen

Defending the human rights of people living as refugees

Facebook Adam
Laureate 2018

Ombudsman Adam Bodnar

Defending minorities rights and judicial independence

Ahangar Og Parvez Raftoprize 2017 Hjb
Laureate 2017

Parveena Ahangar & Parvez Imroz

Decades of campaigning for human rights in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir

Hjb Rafto Yanar Mohammed Web
Laureate 2016

Yanar Mohammed

Defender of women's rights in war-torn Iraq

Padre-Melo-2
Laureate 2015

Padre Melo

A fearless voice in a violent country

Pavel Chikov
Laureate 2014

Agora - Pavel Chikov

Defender of the rule of law in Russia

BCHR-Hans-Jørgen-Brun
Laureate 2013

Bahrain Center for Human Rights

The inconvenient demand for human rights in the Gulf

2012 Nnimmo Bassey © Hans Jørgen Brun
Laureate 2012

Nnimmo Bassey

Defender of victims of climate change

2011-Frank-Mugisha-SMUG-©Hans-Jørgen-Brun
Laureate 2011

Sexual Minorities Uganda

Defender of LGBTI rights

Raul-Lopez
Laureate 2010

José Raúl Vera López

Defender of the vulnerable and the rejected

malahat nasibova
Laureate 2009

Malahat Nasibova

The brave voice of Nakhchivan

bulambo lembelembe josue
Laureate 2008

Bulambo Lembelembe Josué

Bringing hope for the victims of war

ncdhr dalit
Laureate 2007

National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights

Defenders of the downtrodden

Thich Quang Do Photo Ibib Kuttet
Laureate 2006

Thích Quảng Độ

Peaceful oppositon against the communist regime

lidia yusupova chechnya
Laureate 2005

Lidia Yusupova

Defender of the forgotten victims of the war in Chechnya

Rebiya Kadeer
Laureate 2004

Rebiya Kadeer

Defender of the repressed Uyghurs

sidi mohammed daddach
Laureate 2002

Sidi Mohammed Daddach

The Sahrawi people's struggle for self determination

Shirin Ebadi
Laureate 2001

Shirin Ebadi

Rights for women and children under the Islamic regime

Kim-Dae-Jung
Laureate 2000

Kim Dae-jung

Giving hope of re-conciliation with North Korea

Gennady Grushevoy
Laureate 1999

Gennady Grushevoy

Protecting the victims of the Chernobyl disaster

ECPAT logo
Laureate 1998

ECPAT

Committed to ending commercial sexual exploitation of children

Ian Hancock
Laureate 1997

Ian Hancock

Advocate for the rights and dignity of the Romani

1996 palermo anno uno logo 166x221
Laureate 1996

Palermo Anno Uno

Standing up against the Mafia and organized crime

1995 soldiers mothers logo 166x221
Laureate 1995

Committee of Soldiers' Mothers of Russia

Working for peace on behalf of those forced to wage war

1994-leyla zana
Laureate 1994

Leyla Zana

Peaceful struggle for the human rights of the Kurdish people

jose-ramos-horta
Laureate 1993

José Ramos-Horta

Promoting independence for the people of East Timor

1992-Preah-Maha-Ghosananda
Laureate 1992

Preah Maha Ghosananda

Leading role in reconciling a country torn by war

Jelena-Bonner-2004-Svart-hvitt
Laureate 1991

Yelena Bonner

Lifelong work for political and religious freedom in the Soviet Union

aung san suu kyi
Laureate 1990

Aung San Suu Kyi

Leading the struggle for democracy in Burma

doina-cornea
Laureate 1989

Doina Cornea

Writing for freedom in a communist dictatorship

peter molnar
Laureate 1989

FIDESZ - Péter Molnár

Founders of a democratic Hungary

trivimi velliste estonia-2
Laureate 1988

Trivimi Velliste

Reviving the past to liberate the future

Jiri-Hajek
Laureate 1987

Jiří Hájek

Foreign Affairs Minister of the Prague Spring and brave spokesperson for civil rights