Call for Nominations: Sir Henry Brooke Award 2026

The Alliance for Lawyers at Risk is pleased to invite nominations for the Sir Henry Brooke Award 2026, which honours legal practitioners and human rights defenders who have made outstanding contributions to the promotion and protection of human rights and the rule of law, often in the face of great adversity and at significant personal risk.

About the Award

Named in memory of Sir Henry Brooke – founder of the Alliance and a tireless advocate for justice and equality – the award recognises individuals whose courage and commitment have advanced human rights in challenging environments.

Past recipients include Virginia Laparra, Adil José Meléndez Marquez, Donald Hernandez and Dina Meza, along with many others whose work has had a profound impact.

Please see the Sir Henry Brooke Award 2026 Brochure for further details:

Selection Process

The winner will be selected by an independent panel chaired by Professor Christine Chinkin and including Lord Dyson, Sir Patrick Elias, Maya Lester KC, and Lizzette Robledo de Howarth. The committee will assess nominations based on the following criteria:

  1. The nature of the nominee’s work in defending fundamental freedoms and promoting human rights and the rule of law.
  2. The impact of their work on marginalised or vulnerable groups.
  3. How they have overcome challenges in pursuing their human rights work.
  4. The broader impact of their efforts, locally or globally.
  5. How well the nominee embodies Sir Henry Brooke’s values: justice, equality, and human rights.

There are no restrictions on the nationality or country of origin of nominees.

How to Submit a Nomination

If you know someone making a meaningful difference for the promotion and protection of human rights and the rule of law, we would be grateful to receive your nomination.

To submit a nomination:

Award Ceremony

The 2026 Award will be presented at a ceremony in London in March 2026. Further details will be shared closer to the date.

Thank you for helping us to recognise and support those who risk so much to defend human rights and the rule of law. For any questions, please get in touch at admin@lawyersatrisk.org.