Human Rights Award
The Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award identifies and honors those who embody Senator Robert F. Kennedy’s belief that the power of individual and collective moral courage can overcome injustice. Each year, we honor outstanding champions of social justice who stand up to oppression, even at great personal risk, in the nonviolent pursuit of human rights.
About the Award
The Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award honors an individual or group of individuals who stand up to oppression at grave personal risk in the nonviolent pursuit of human rights. Since inception, the Human Rights Award has honored activists from 31 countries. We forge strategic partnerships with laureates whose work advances human rights causes all over the world. In combining resources and collaborating on strategy, our laureates amplify their transformative work to a worldwide audience.
Senator Robert F. Kennedy pledged that “those with the courage to enter moral conflict will find themselves with companions in every corner of the globe.” Our team of lawyers and issue experts collaborate with partners around the world to create lasting change. Through legal advocacy, we have freed political prisoners, defended the rule of law in autocratic regimes and amplified the voices of human rights defenders in the United States and abroad.
Watch Past Ceremonies
2025 Ceremony
The 2025 Human Rights Award honored Maine Governor Janet Mills, former DOJ Pardon Attorney Elizabeth Oyer, and immigration reform activist Jeanette Vizguerra.
2024 Ceremony
On June 6, 2024, anti-detention and LGBTQ+ advocate Arely Westley received the 41st annual RFK Human Rights Award.
2023 Ceremony
On June 6, 2023, the Parlamento del Pueblo Xinka (Parliament of the Xinka People) received the 40th annual RFK Human Rights Award.
2022 Ceremony
On June 7, 2022, we were proud to present the RFK Human Rights Award to Cameroonian human rights defenders Maximilienne C. Ngo Mbe and Felix Agbor Nkongho (Balla) in Washington, D.C.
Our Past Laureates
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