Civil Rights Defenders welcomes you to join us in celebration of the recipient of the Civil Rights Defender of the Year Award 2025, the
Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression
In a country where speaking the truth can cost you your freedom—or even your life—the Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression has never stayed silent. For over twenty years, they have been relentless advocates against oppression, exposing war crimes and holding perpetrators accountable, even from exile. Despite threats, arbitrary detentions, forced disappearances and torture, their tireless work has led to arrests of top Syrian officials, and even an arrest warrant against the recently ousted dictator Bashar al-Assad.
Read more about their work here.
The Civil Rights Defender of the Year Award is for outstanding work in defence of civil and political rights. It is awarded annually by Civil Rights Defenders. With the award, we recognise prominent human rights defenders who, despite the risk to their own safety, continue the fight for civil and political rights.
