Hoda Abdel-Moneim receives top human rights award from the International Bar Association (IBA)
- Human Rights Research Center
- Nov 21, 2025
- 3 min read
Author: Peter Clarkin, MA
November 21, 2025
HRRC strongly supports the IBA’s decision to recognise Hoda Abdel-Moneim for her outstanding contribution to human rights in the field of law. We hope that this award will raise awareness of Abel-Moneim’s current imprisonment in Cairo and encourage the international community to campaign for her long-overdue release.
Human rights lawyer, Hoda Abdel-Moneim has been recognised for her dedication to defending freedom and advancing justice. The IBA chose to award Adbel-Moneim its 2025 Award for Outstanding Contribution by a Legal Practitioner to Human Rights. The award is specifically in recognition of her work in the areas of women’s rights, children’s rights, and the campaign against enforced disappearance.
Tragically, Abdel-Moneim was unable to attend the ceremony in person as she currently remains imprisoned in Egypt, where she has been in pretrial detention since 2018. She was originally detained by state forces in November of 2018 after she was accused of being part of an illegal group, and has been held at Al Qanater Female Prison since January 2019.
Prior to 2018 Abdel-Moneim served on Egypt’s National Council for Human Rights, was a spokesperson for the Women’s Revolutionary Coalition of Egypt and represented her country at international conferences in the areas of both women’s and children’s rights. Nonetheless, her original period of imprisonment for allegedly funding and joining a terrorist organisation was due to be completed in October of 2025, but she remains imprisoned with little to no hope of release.
Abdel-Moneim’s deteriorating health is also a cause of great concern and it is believed she has suffered a stroke and a heart attack during her time in prison. Her family has frequently been denied access to see her medical records, but Abdel-Moneim herself has confirmed that one prison doctor told her that she was displaying symptoms of brain damage that could have been brought on by chronic stress.
Upon accepting the reward on her mother’s behalf, Abdel-Moneim’s daughter Gehad Badawy stated that human rights defenders should be rewarded, not punished, and that the public should “…write about them on social media, send letters to decision makers and show that you reject these practices against them.” In the case of Abdel-Moneim, perhaps the best outcome this award has achieved is ensuring that she remains in the public eye.
Glossary
Allegedly- According to what has been said but not yet proven
Behalf- Acting in the interests of, or as a representative for, another person or group.
Chronic- Long-lasting or persistent, usually referring to a medical condition that continues over time.
Detained- Held by authorities and not allowed to leave, often while awaiting investigation or legal proceedings.
Deteriorating- Getting worse over time; declining in condition, health, or quality.
Enforced disappearance- The secret abduction or detention of a person by state agents (or with the state’s support), followed by a refusal to acknowledge the person’s fate or whereabouts.
Imprisonment- The state of being confined in a prison as a result of legal or political actions.
Justice- Fairness in the way people are treated
Legal practitioner- A professional qualified to practice law, such as a lawyer, solicitor, or attorney.
Long-overdue- Delayed far beyond what is reasonable or expected; something that should have happened a long time ago.
Pretrial detention- Holding a person in custody while they await trial, rather than allowing release pending court proceedings.
Public eye- The state of being widely known, watched, or scrutinised by the general public.
Spokesperson- A person who speaks on behalf of an organisation, group, or individual, especially in the media or official contexts.
Stroke- A medical emergency caused by interrupted blood supply to the brain, resulting in potential brain damage and physical or cognitive impairment.
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