The Anne Klein Women’s Award 2025 to Darya Afanasyeva, Irina Alkhovka and Julia Mickiewicz from Belarus

Darya Afanasyeva is a Belarusian feminist activist, a blogger, lesbian, and a former political prisoner. To her the term “former” seems odd in this context. As she says, such an experience will stay with you for life. 

Gender equity is Irina Alkhovka’s personal and professional passion. In 2021, the human rights campaigner had to leave her home country, Belarus, where she was being prosecuted for her political activism.

Julia Mickiewicz switched from journalism to politics and then to NGOs. She is the co-founder of the feminist organisation FemGroup Belarus. Today, she lives in exile – still she continues in her unwavering struggle for gender equality, diversity, and social justice.