Anne Klein Women’s Award

We must band together to defend feminism, gender equality and democracy, demands Lisa Paus, Member of the German Bundestag and Federal Minister for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth.

In her laudatory speech, Viola von Cramon-Taubadel honours the different lives of the laureates and what unites them: their commitment, their convictions and their dedication to women's rights in Belarus.

For her, the new Belarus began with the Women’s Revolution in 2020, and continues to this very day. Julia Mickiewicz remembers the inspiration that the beautiful and smart women at the rallies have given her, along with the conviction that victory is achievable.

The three laureates are shaping the socio-political debates in Belarus and are enabling a counter-narrative to the Russian discourse and the deeply patriarchal view of society held by ruler Lukashenko, says Dr. Imme Scholz

Acceptance speech. Belarus is a country where women took to the streets with flowers and were thrown into prison vans. By Darya Afanasyeva

Irina Alkhovka pays tribute to earlier generations of women, such as her former university professor and founder of this award, Anne Klein. She says their resilience and courage serve as a beacon for all of us, in every era.

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.

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.

Darya Afanasyeva is a Belarusian activist and feminist blogger who campaigns for the protection of women's rights and democratic change in Belarus. After more than two years in prison, she continues to blog on feminist issues.

Irina Alkhovka is a Belarusian women's and human rights activist and founder of the NGO Gender Perspectives. She is committed to combating trafficking of women and protecting victims of gender-based violence. 

Julia Mickiewicz is a Belarusian journalist, feminist activist, politician and co-founder of the NGO FemGroup Belarus. She is committed to the political participation of women, gender equality and gender mainstreaming. 

The 2025 Anne Klein Women’s Award goes to the Belarusian feminists and women’s rights activists Darya Afanasieva, Irina Alkhovka and Julia Mickiewicz. 

In peacetime, Yuliya Sporysh made empowering young women her mission, strengthening their confidence that they can do anything they set their minds to. In pursuing this mission since 24 September 2022, she has grown into someone even more remarkable, says Jamila Schäfer in her presentation address.

Yuliya Sporysh works with her Ukrainian NGO in the triangle of functioning kindergartens and schools, sustainable mental support and the transfer of skills and knowledge to women and mothers.

The Ukrainian women have proven that they cannot be reduced to the role of victims, but are prepared to take an active position, says Dr Imme Scholz, jury chair and board member of the Heinrich Böll Foundation, in her reasons for awarding the Anne Klein Women's Award 2024.

I am convinced that we also need gender mainstreaming in peace and security policy! Greeting from the Federal Minister for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth, Lisa Paus, MP

Yuliya Sporysh brought the “leader” concept from the male-dominated IT industry to a civil society organisation. Her NGO, Girls, supports Ukrainian girls and women as they shape their own futures independently and successfully.

Yuliya Sporysh is a Ukrainian feminist, mother of three, PhD sociologist, and founder of the NGO “Girls”. Her feminist mission is to empower vulnerable groups and promote positive social change in Ukraine.

The Ukrainian feminist and women’s rights activist Yuliya Sporysh is to receive the Anne Klein Women’s Award 2024.