Amnesty Germany awards 2026 Human Rights Prize to Palestinian lawyer Khaled Qazmar

Amnesty International's Germany branch announced awarding the 2026 Human Rights Prize to Palestinian lawyer and rights activist Khaled Qazmar, in recognition of his ongoing efforts over about four decades defending the rights of children and youth in the occupied Palestinian territories.

The organization said the award is accompanied by a cash prize of €20,000, and aims to highlight Qazmar's work documenting human rights violations and representing Palestinian minors before Israeli military courts.

Khaled Qazmar served as director general of Defence for Children International - Palestine (DCIP), which the source described as having come under intense pressure; those pressures led to the announcement of its dissolution in spring 2026 as a result of ongoing repressive practices against human rights work.

The organization said the award ceremony will be held in the German capital, Berlin, on November 25 at the Silent Green cultural center, attended by prominent human rights and diplomatic figures, noting that the event will not take place in Munich as some had expected.

Amnesty International added that honoring Qazmar sends a message of solidarity with human rights defenders who face extremely complex and dangerous conditions in their efforts to protect childhood and pursue justice.