Post by University of Oslo

UiO’s Human Rights Award 2026 goes to Pakistani advocate for education Farida Shaheed. Shaheed is the UN Special Rapporteur on the right to education and receives the award for her tireless work for human rights, social justice and equality. For decades, she has been a courageous voice for the right to education, academic freedom, and the rights of women, LGBT+ people, persons with disabilities, religious and ethnic minorities, and those who are economically marginalised, both in Pakistan and internationally. The prize committee particularly highlights Shaheed’s pioneering work for education and academic freedom. Through her advocacy, she has helped advance academic freedom as a human right and drawn attention to the urgent need to protect students, teachers, schools and universities in conflict situations. We congratulate Farida Shaheed on receiving UiO’s Human Rights Award 2026!