Belarusian Activist and LAD Alumna Olga Karach Awarded Weimar Human Rights Prize
Karach was honored on December 10, 2022, for her work with "Nash Dom" (Our House), a network that organizes public campaigns, supports activists when they become victims of state repression and violence, and exposes abuses in Belarusian politics.
The Center on Democracy, Development and the Rule of Law is pleased to share that Olga Karach, an alumna of our Leadership Academy for Development, has received the 2022 Weimar Human Rights Prize for her work with the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom and "Nash Dom (Our House)," an organization she founded that organizes public campaigns, supports activists when they become victims of state repression and violence, and exposes abuses in Belarusian politics.
The Weimar Prize is awarded annually on December 10, which has been recognized as International Human Rights Day by the United Nations. The city's official website notes that "The prize is awarded to people, groups or organizations that are particularly committed to protecting and enforcing fundamental rights. Likewise, the work for humanity and tolerance between people and peoples is taken into account in the award. Another important criterion for awarding the prize is commitment to projects abroad that promote democracy."
In a statement announcing Olga's honor, Nash Dom wrote:
Today, on December 10, 2022, Olga Karach, Belarusian human rights defender and leader of the International Centre for Civil Initiatives OUR HOUSE, will be awarded the Human Rights Award of the City of Weimar (Germany) at an official ceremony.
Another person to receive the award, will be Irina Shcherbakova, Russian human rights defender and a founder of Memorial, one of the oldest civil rights groups in Russia. Irina Shcherbakova has also been was co-awarded the Nobel Peace Prize together with the Belarusian human rights defender, Ales Bialiatski, and Ukraine’s Center for Civil Liberties.
To remind, this is not the first human rights award received by Olga Karach.
In 2007, the Belarusian group of Amnesty International declared Olga Karach the Human Rights Defender of the Year for her achievements in human rights defending activity.
In 2010, Olga Karach was awarded the Radebeul Courage Prize in Germany.
In 2019, Olga Karach received an International Bremen Peace Award.
In 2021, Olga participated in a Leadership Academy for Development (LAD) course in Prague led by Francis Fukuyama and Erik Jensen, in partnership with the Boris Nemtsov Foundation for Freedom. LAD trains mid-career government officials and business leaders from developing countries to help the private sector be a constructive force for economic growth and development.
Please join us in congratulating Olga on this well-deserved honor. A recording of the Weimar Prize award ceremony can be viewed here (in German).
