Maria Ressa is the co-founder and chief executive officer of Rappler and the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate. Ressa became chairperson of the World Movement for Democracy Steering Committee in 2022. Rappler is the top digital news site leading the fight for press freedom in the Philippines. Maria’s courage and work on disinformation and ‘fake news’ culminated in being awarded the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of her “efforts to safeguard freedom of expression, which is a precondition for democracy and lasting peace.” A journalist for over 36 years, Maria has been arrested on 10 charges related to exposing the Duterte government’s corrupt practices and was convicted of cyber-libel in June. She is out on bail pending her appeal but, true to form, Ressa vows to keep fighting.

Corlett Letlojane is the executive director of the Human Rights Institute of South Africa (HURISA). With over 20 years of experience, she is a passionate human rights advocate specializing in national, regional, and international frameworks. She is also part of Civil Society Coalition Resolution 13/25, which has been pushing South Africa to develop a national action plan to address peace and security in the country. She is a Support Group Member on Freedom of Association and Assembly established by the African Commission on Human & People’s Rights. She provides technical support to regional bodies and facilitates human rights training across Africa. Recognized as a human rights defender in the SADC region, she holds an LLB from UNISA and a B. Luris Diploma from North-West University (formerly UNIBO).

Ryota Jonen is the director of World Movement for Democracy, a global network of democracy activists, human rights defenders, and practitioners. Since 2007, Jonen has led the World Movement’s Defending Civil Society project, which addresses issues related to restrictive environments for civil society around the world. Through the project, he has built a strong global coalition of experts and civil society activists who protect and advocate for enabling civil society space. He also helped build extensive partnerships with various civil society groups across Africa for efforts to ratify the African Union’s African Charter on Democracy, Elections, and Governance. Before joining the World Movement, he worked with non-governmental organizations in Switzerland and Liberia, developing human rights education and post-conflict reconciliation programs.  

Zingiswa Losi is the president of the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU), elected at its 13th National Congress in 2018. With a deep history in labor and political activism, she started in the Congress of South African Students (COSAS) and the African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL). A former soldier in the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), she later joined Ford in Port Elizabeth as an operator and shop steward for the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA). Losi is dedicated to strengthening COSATU and advancing women’s leadership to drive societal transformation and combat patriarchy.

Maina Kiai is the former United Nations Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association (2011–2017). A lawyer trained at Nairobi and Harvard Universities, he has been a leading advocate for human rights and constitutional reform in Kenya. Kiai founded and led the Kenya Human Rights Commission and later chaired the National Human Rights Commission (2003–2008), gaining recognition for his bold efforts against corruption and impunity during Kenya’s 2008 post-election violence. He has also served as Executive Director of the International Council on Human Rights Policy and Director of Amnesty International’s Africa Programme. Kiai has held research fellowships at prestigious institutions, including the Woodrow Wilson Center and the Danish Institute for Human Rights.

Risham Waseem is the executive director of Maati TV, Pakistan’s first web TV dedicated to creating advocacy and awareness on social justice issues. Wassem is a digital storyteller, media trainer, and communication and advocacy strategist dividing her time between Pakistan and the UK. She is also a media consultant with Interactive Resource Centre, an info media organization specializing in art-based development tools aimed at civic action. Previously she was a digital communication strategist for the office of the United National Human Rights Commission, where she designed digital strategies and products for the Special Rapporteur on freedom of peaceful assembly and association. She has been a SAJP Chevening fellowship in the UK as well as a Hurford Youth Fellow with the World Movement for Democracy in Washington DC.

Janet Jobson is the chief executive officer of the Desmond & Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation, where she guides the organization in its mission of bridge-building and healing. She has been recognized twice in the Mail & Guardian’s list of top 200 young South Africans. Jobson has established strong roots at the DG Murray Trust, where she honed her skills in development work, rising to Deputy CEO and serving as acting CEO for a year. As CEO of the Tutu Legacy Foundation, she aims to create programs and partnerships that embody Archbishop Tutu's legacy of compassion and moral courage, emphasizing the importance of relational work in addressing the pressing human challenges of our time.

Mbali Ntuli is the founder and CEO of Ground Work Collective, a community development initiative focused on food security, access to water, civic education, and entrepreneurship. A former politician, Ntuli has held significant roles including councilor in KwaZulu-Natal and a Member of Parliament. Mbali made history as the youngest candidate to contest for the leadership of South Africa’s official opposition party, Democratic Alliance in 2020. Ntuli served as a National Youth Leader and spokesperson for the provincial opposition in KZN. Ntuli is a Mandela Washington Fellow and was recognized as the World Young Politician of the Year in 2019.

Mark Heywood is a South African human rights and social justice activist with a career spanning over four decades. He co-founded and directed SECTION27, a public interest law center that seeks to influence, develop, and use the law to protect, promote, and advance human rights, as well as several other organizations promoting advocacy and equality. Heywood holds degrees from Oxford University and the University of the Witwatersrand, and he has been a visiting scholar at both Oxford's Bonavero Institute and the Nelson Mandela School of Public Governance.

Ashor Sarupen is the deputy minister of finance of South Africa and a member of the South African National Assembly for the Democratic Alliance (DA) party, where he advocates for transparency, accountable governance, and the rule of law. Sarupen is known for his pro-democracy work, particularly in the areas of fiscal accountability and government oversight. He has focused on ensuring efficient public spending and combating corruption, believing that strong democratic institutions are essential for South Africa’s development.

Dr. Rekgotsofetse Chikane is a lecturer at the University of the Witwatersrand School of Governance and a prominent political commentator and activist. He holds a Master in Public Policy from the University of Oxford and completed his PhD at Wits, focusing on decoloniality, development, and complexity economics. As a research associate at the Wits Institute for Socio-Economic Research, he explores decolonial thought, youth politics, and South African public policy. Chikane’s democracy activism emphasizes civic engagement, electoral reform, and accountability, Chikane is a Mandela-Rhodes Scholar, Mandela-Washington Fellow, and was recognized as one of Mail & Guardian's Top 200 Young People in 2016.

Naw May-Oo Mutraw is a Senior Policy Advisor with the Salween Institute for Public Policy, Advisor to the Karen National Union, and Technical Advisor to the Women’s League of Burma. A Karen from Burma, she holds an LL.M from Indiana University and was a Snyder International Law Research Scholar at the University of Cambridge. She specializes in constitutional law, federalism, and post-conflict state-building, focusing on democracy and peace in multiethnic states. May-Oo previously served as the Women’s Affairs Coordinator for the National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma. Since 2012, she has been involved in Burma’s peace process, contributing her expertise to promote national reconciliation and democratic development.

Fadi Ali Abu Shammalah is the executive director of the General Union of Cultural Centers in Gaza and an Outreach Associate at JustVision. A seasoned writer and reporter, his work has been featured in The New York Times, Al Jazeera America, The Nation, and Yes! Magazine. He is also the co-producer of JustVision’s acclaimed film Naila and the Uprising, which highlights women's leadership in the Palestinian struggle.

Šimon Pánek is the chairman of the Board of the Prague Civil Society Centre, supporting civil society in former Soviet Union countries. He co-founded and served as Executive Director of People in Need, a Czech humanitarian organization aiding conflict zones and authoritarian states such as Chechnya, Belarus, and Cuba. A leader in the 1989 Velvet Revolution, Pánek later advised President Václav Havel on Balkans and human rights issues. He has held leadership roles in the European Council on Foreign Relations, European Partnership for Democracy, and Alliance 2015. Recognized with the Czech State Medal of Merit and European of the Year Award, Pánek also serves on the World Movement for Democracy’s Steering Committee.

Rinu Oduala is the executive project director of Connect Hub Nigeria, a platform advocating against state violence and police brutality. She emerged as a leading voice during Nigeria’s 2020 protests against police brutality, focusing on justice, equity, and community advancement. Oduala served on the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry on police brutality, contributing to accountability efforts. A recognized human rights advocate and community organizer, she has received over 100 awards, including the Forbes Woman Africa Young Achiever Award (2024) and Woman of the Year, Advocacy by HerEconomy (2022). In 2023, she was a Hurford Youth Fellow at the World Movement for Democracy, furthering her work on global democratic engagement.

Yevgeniy Zhovtis is the director of the Kazakhstan International Bureau for Human Rights and Rule of Law. Zhovtis served as a union leader in the early 1990s and has been an outspoken critic of human rights violations in Kazakhstan for the past 25 years. He is an accomplished lawyer and was one of the founders of the BOTA Foundation in 2008. Zhovtis is the recipient of several honors for his human rights work, including: the 1998 United States and European Union Democracy and Civil Society Award, the 1999 International League for Human Rights Award, the 2005 International Helsinki Federation Recognition Award, the 2007 Friedrich Ebert Stiftung Human Rights Award, and 2010 the Norwegian Helsinki Foundation Andrey Sakharov Award.

Peter Pomerantsev is a senior fellow at the SNF Agora Institute at Johns Hopkins University, where he co-directs the Arena Initiative, dedicated to countering digital disinformation and polarization. Previously, he led the same initiative at the London School of Economics. His first book, Nothing is True and Everything is Possible, explores the world of Russian propaganda and won the Royal Society of Literature's Ondaatje Prize. It has been translated into more than a dozen languages and dramatized on BBC Radio 4. His follow-up, This is Not Propaganda, examines the global spread of disinformation. It was a Times Book of the Year and was shortlisted for the Gordon Burns Prize. 

Nicholas Opiyo is a leading human rights lawyer and founder of Chapter Four Uganda, an organization that provides research, advocacy, and outreach services to influence laws, policies, and practices in the interest of civil liberties and human rights. Since 2005, Opiyo has worked on critical human rights issues, including drafting Uganda’s anti-torture law and successfully challenging the Anti-Homosexuality Act of 2013. He represents a diverse clientele, from pro-democracy activists to those facing politically motivated charges. Opiyo has received numerous accolades, including the 2017 German Africa Prize and Human Rights Watch’s Alison Des Forges Award (2015). Opiyo was also part of the inaugural EU Parliament Sakharov Fellowship in 2016. He is a member of the Steering Committee of the World Movement for Democracy.

Fernanda Bedoya Horta is the alliance manager at Mutante, the first digital movement to promote citizen’s dialogues in Colombia. She is the former director of El Derecho a No Obedecer (The Right to Not Obey), an independent platform that creates, develops, and supports advocacy processes to transform unjust realities around migration, climate justice, and air quality, and peaceful mobilization and protest in Colombia and Ecuador. She is a graduate of the Government and International Relations School at Externado University, currently finishing her master’s degree in applied economics at the University of the Andes.

Maiko Ichihara is a professor at Hitotsubashi University’s Graduate School of Law and School of International and Public Policy in Japan. She chairs the East Asia Democracy Forum’s Steering Committee and serves on the Steering Committees of the World Movement for Democracy and the Japan Factcheck Center. Her research focuses on international relations, democracy support, Japanese foreign policy, and influence operations. Ichihara holds a Ph.D. in political science from George Washington University. Her recent publications include How to Tackle Disinformation in Japan: Lessons from the Russia-Ukraine War (Brookings, 2022), Japanese Democracy After Shinzo Abe (Journal of Democracy, 2021), and Japan's International Democracy Assistance as Soft Power (Routledge, 2017).

Dr. Mathews Phosa is a South African lawyer, political leader, and businessman, known for founding the first black-owned law firm in apartheid-era Nelspruit in 1985. Forced into exile after a failed assassination attempt, he became a regional commander of uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK), the African National Congress’s (ANC) military wing, and led its legal department. As one of the first ANC leaders to return from exile, he played a pivotal role in negotiating with the apartheid government, co-authoring the historic Record of Understanding. Following South Africa’s first democratic elections in 1994, Dr. Phosa was appointed Premier of Mpumalanga Province, further contributing to the country’s transition to democracy.

Fawzia Koofi is an Afghan politician, human rights advocate, and former Deputy Speaker of Afghanistan's parliament, recognized for her efforts to build democracy and promote women's rights. A fierce advocate for education and gender equality, she was a key player in pushing for democratic reforms and peace negotiations that included women’s voices. Following the U.S. withdrawal and the Taliban's return to power in 2021, Koofi’s role shifted to international advocacy, where she continues to champion democracy, human rights, and the inclusion of Afghan women in global dialogues on Afghanistan’s future. 

Atifete Jahjaga is the former President of the Republic of Kosovo (2011–2016), the country’s first female and youngest head of state. She founded the Jahjaga Foundation in 2018, focusing on youth and women empowerment to drive social change. Before her presidency, Jahjaga served in Kosovo's Police force, rising to Deputy General Director. She has been a strong advocate for women's rights and war survivors, hosting the 2012 International Women’s Summit, which led to the adoption of the Pristina Principles. A member of the Council of Women World Leaders since 2012 and the UN Women Leaders Network since 2023, Jahjaga holds multiple honorary doctorates and has received the Clinton Global Initiative's Leadership in Public Service Award.

Roelf Meyer is a former South African politician and a key figure in the country’s democratic transition. As Minister of Constitutional Affairs and Communication in 1992, he served as Chief Negotiator for the National Party, working alongside Cyril Ramaphosa of the African National Congress to pave the way for South Africa’s first democratic elections in 1994. This historic negotiation helped establish a unified, democratic South Africa. Since retiring from politics in 2000, Meyer has advised on conflict resolution globally, chaired the South African Defense Review Committee, and held various academic roles. In 2009, he received the Order of the Baobab in Silver for his pivotal role in shaping South Africa’s democratic Constitution.

Julie Posetti is deputy vice president of Global Research at the International Center for Journalists and professor of journalism at City, University of London. An award-winning Australian journalist and academic with over 30 years of experience, she leads the Online Violence Project and research for the Disarming Disinformation Project. Posetti has spearheaded major United Nations studies on disinformation and journalist safety. She serves on the Board of the International Fund for Public Interest Media and the Advisory Board of the Global Partnership for Action on Online Gender-Based Abuse. Her work focuses on combating online violence, disinformation, and advocating for media freedom and journalist protection globally.

Branko Brkic is the Leader of Project Kontinuum and the former Editor-in-Chief of Daily Maverick, a prominent online news platform in South Africa. He began his publishing career in 1984 in Yugoslavia, where he founded the country’s largest privately-owned publishing house. After relocating to South Africa in 1991, Brkic launched several successful magazines, including Maverick and *Empire*. In 2009, he founded Daily Maverick, which now reaches approximately 10 million unique visitors monthly. A staunch advocate for press freedom and democracy, Brkic played a key role in initiatives like #GuptaLeaks, which exposed widespread corruption in South Africa’s government.

Zhala Bayramova is a human rights lawyer specializing in LGBTQIA+ rights. Their father Dr. Gubad Ibadoghlu, an economist, opposition leader, and longtime human rights defender, was unjustly imprisoned by the Azerbaijani regime in 2023 after speaking out against government policies. Bayramova has worked as a representative in human rights cases before the European Court of Human Rights, focusing on election violations, LGBTQIA+, freedom of expression, assembly, and association. Amid the ongoing suppression of civil society in Azerbaijan, Bayramova advocates for the release of political prisoners, including their father.  

Oleksandra Matviychuk is a human rights lawyer and civil society leader based in Kyiv, Ukraine. Since 2007, she has worked at the Center for Civil Liberties, advocating for human rights, democracy, and solidarity. She also serves on the Advisory Council under Ukraine’s Commissioner for Human Rights. After the 2013 violent crackdown on Euromaidan protests, Matviychuk coordinated the Euromaidan SOS initiative to provide legal aid to victims. She has led international campaigns for political prisoners, including #LetMyPeopleGo and #SaveOlegSentsov. Nominated to the UN Committee Against Torture in 2021, Matviychuk’s Center shared the Nobel Peace Prize in 2022 for its work documenting war crimes and human rights abuses. She is a member of the World Movement for Democracy’s Steering Committee.

Neeshan Balton is the executive director of the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation, a position he has held since its founding in 2008. The foundation was established to continue the legacy of anti-apartheid struggle stalwart Ahmed Kathrada, who, alongside Nelson Mandela, Walter Sisulu, and others, was sentenced to life imprisonment in 1964, serving 18 of his 26 years on Robben Island. Balton has been a community and political activist for over 40 years, with involvement in teacher unionism, civic and sports organizing, youth activism, and formal and underground African National Congress (ANC) activism. He holds a BA, BEd, and an MSc in Public Management and Finance. Balton’s family was severely impacted by apartheid, being evicted and moved to an Indians-only area under the 1950 Group Areas Act.

Aisha Yesufu is the co-founder of the #BringBackOurGirls movement, advocating for the rescue of schoolgirls abducted in Nigeria in 2014. A passionate activist, she fights for justice, good governance, and accountability. Yesufu also empowers individuals through financial literacy, helping them achieve financial independence and a stronger voice in governance. She played a key role in the #EndSARS protests against police brutality, earning recognition as a symbol of resistance and courage, often dubbed Nigeria's "Statue of Liberty." Yesufu was named one of BBC's 100 Women in 2020, highlighting her global influence as an advocate for equity and human rights.

Damon Wilson is president and chief executive officer of the National Endowment for Democracy. Prior to joining NED, Mr. Wilson served as executive vice president at the Atlantic Council, as special assistant to the president and senior director for European affairs at the National Security Council, as executive secretary and chief of staff at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, and as deputy director in the private office of the NATO Secretary General. Mr. Wilson began his career with Save the Children in Rwanda. He is a graduate of Duke University and Princeton’s School of Public and International Affairs. 

Sook-Jong Lee is a senior fellow at the East Asia Institute in Seoul, Korea, and a professor of public administration at Sungkyunkwan University. She also leads governance-related research networks in academia. Lee has held several advisory positions in the South Korean government, including at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Unification. An active member of the Trilateral Commission and the Council of Councils, her research focuses on multilateralism, democracy, and civil societies in East Asia. Lee has previously served as a research fellow at the Sejong Institute, visiting fellow at the Brookings Institution, and professorial lecturer at Johns Hopkins University's School of Advanced International Studies. She is a member of the World Movement for Democracy's Steering Committee.

Hassan Shire is the Executive Director of the East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project (DefendDefenders) and Chairperson of the Pan-African Human Rights Defenders Network (PAHRD-Net). Under his leadership, DefendDefenders offers emergency protection, advocacy, and support to human rights defenders. Shire previously founded and co-directed the Dr. Ismail Jumale Human Rights Centre in Somalia and chaired the Peace and Human Rights Network. Forced into exile due to extremist threats, he later returned to Africa in 2005 and founded DefendDefenders in Uganda. Shire actively engages with international human rights bodies and serves on multiple boards, including the Center for Civil and Political Rights in Switzerland. He is also a member of the World Movement for Democracy’s Steering Committee.

Glanis Changachirere is the founder and director of the Institute for Young Women’s Development. The organization promotes young women’s sustainable livelihoods and aims to enhance their participation in socio-economic and political justice issues. Changachirere is also the current Deputy Chairperson of the Board of the Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU). A globally recognized women’s rights advocate, Changachirere became an activist after she encountered significant barriers to receiving an education in the rural Mashonaland Central Province of Zimbabwe. Defying the norms of a highly patriarchal society, she enrolled in university and was the only woman in the Student Representatives’ Council. She was arrested on several occasions due to her active participation in the country’s student movement. Changachirere is a member of the World Movement for Democracy’s Steering Committee. 

Mai El-Sadany is the executive director of the Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy (TIMEP), which focuses on fostering transparent, accountable, and just societies by centering the insights of MENA advocates in policy discussions. Throughout her career, El-Sadany has worked on expanding pathways to accountability, leveraging international and regional mechanisms to promote human rights, and publishing accessible analyses on legal and constitutional issues. She has worked at the International Center for Not-for-Profit Law, Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights, and the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. El-Sadany holds a J.D. from Georgetown University and a B.A. in political science from Stanford University. She is a member of the World Movement for Democracy's Steering Committee.

Ambassador Jatzel Roman is an activist, diplomat, and former government official from the Dominican Republic. Since October 2022, he has served as the Executive Vice President of the Center for Public Policy Analysis (CAPP), a pro-democracy think tank based in Santo Domingo. From 2020 to 2022, he served as the Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs in charge of Consular and Migratory Affairs, Chairman of the Interinstitutional Committee against Human Trafficking (CITIM), and Coordinator for Democracy and Rule of Law in the Foreign Ministry. He is a member of the World Movement for Democracy's Steering Committee.