The International Federation for Human Rights’ (FIDH) recently interviewed Bahraini activist Maryam Al-Khawaja about how the European Union (EU) can support civil society in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). In the interview, Al-Khawaja stated that the EU could make a meaningful impact by taking a stronger and more consistent approach in calling out human rights abuses in MENA. Al-Khawaja also suggested that the EU could exert diplomatic pressure on repressive regimes to protect human rights defenders and help prevent future human rights abuses. In addition to her work at the Gulf Center for Human Rights (GCHR), Al-Khawaja has been working to secure the release of her father, Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja, who has been a political prisoner since 2011. Learn about his story and how you can help set them free here.

Al-Khawaja accepted the World Movement’s Democracy Courage Tribute on behalf of Bahrain’s human rights defenders at the World Movement’s Seventh Assembly in 2012.