Three projects advance to the final stage of the Vigdís Prize for Women's Empowerment 2026

The selection committee for the Vigdís Prize for Women's Empowerment has announced which three projects have advanced to the final selection of the award. The committee received over 300 applications from around the world, of which 100 projects met the established criteria.

The three projects shortlisted for the final selection are:
• My Voice, My Choice (Slovenia)
A grassroots movement advocating for women’s bodily autonomy and equal access to abortion. The organization has already collected 1.2 million signatures and has had considerable influence on developments in the European Parliament.
• SASANE (Nepal)
An organization run by survivors of human trafficking and sexual violence. It trains women who have experienced violence in legal matters. The organization has been involved in 1,500 legal cases and has rescued 238 women and girls.
• Girl Child Counselling Women Group (Kenya)
An organization supporting children, girls, and young mothers suffering from HIV/AIDS and living in extreme poverty, with the aim of preventing human trafficking and sexual exploitation.

Vigdís Prize for Women's Empowerment is being presented for the third time. It is a joint initiative of the Icelandic government and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, intended to recognize an individual or organization that has made an exceptional contribution to the empowerment of women.
Six members serve on the selection committee, including representatives from the Icelandic government and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. The award will be formally presented at the opening of the Council of Europe’s summer session in Strasbourg on Monday, June 22. The winner will receive €60,000 in prize money, funded by the Icelandic government, along with a certificate and a trophy. The trophy is the artwork Kvika by Brynhildur Þorgeirsdóttir, made from Icelandic lava and glass.

The grassroots movement Irida Women’s Center in Greece was the first recipient of the award in 2024. The movement works to create positive change in the lives of women living in poverty, social isolation, and gender-based violence. In 2025, the Palestinian organization Women of the Sun received the award; it promotes the empowerment of Palestinian women by strengthening their voice and influence in politics and business both within Palestine and internationally.

More information about the Vigdís Prize for Women's Empowerment can be found on their website.