The 2026 Vigdís prize for women's empowerment has been awarded to My Voice, My Choice, a grassroots feminist movement originating in Slovenia that brings together more than 300 organisations from across the European Union to work towards safe and accessible abortion.
The 60,000-euro annual prize, awarded jointly by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and the Government of Iceland, honours outstanding initiatives to promote the empowerment of women in all their diversity, from Europe and beyond.
This is the third edition of the Prize, which is named after Iceland's former President Vigdís Finnbogadóttir, the first woman in the world to be elected as a head of state.
Bringing about change to exercise of reproductive rights
In 2025 My Voice, My Choice gathered over 1.1 million signatures for a citizen's initiative on access to safe abortion, resulting in a landmark European Parliament resolution and a European Commission commitment to use EU funds for abortion services.
Accepting the award at a ceremony in Strasbourg, on the opening day of Parliamentary Assembly's summer plenary session, the organisation's Lana Čop said the award recognised not only a campaign but "thousands of people who chose hope over cynicism and action over resignation".
She added: "Europe is not built only in institutions. Europe is also built between people. Through solidarity. Through courage. Through friendship. And through the stubborn belief that a better future is worth fighting for."
"If the world can be saved, it will be by women"
Parliamentary Assembly President Petra Bayr presented Ms Čop with a cheque for €60,000, a diploma and the prize trophy, a sculpture made from Icelandic volcanic magma named Kvika. She reiterated the words of Vigdís Finnbogadóttir that if the world can be saved, it will be by women, adding: "Looking at the news these days, I think that peace and hope is something that is desperately needed."
Congratulating the winning organisation, the President noted that "those who campaign for sexual and reproductive rights face a massive pushback from organisations that are well-equipped with resources".
Iceland's Justice Minister Þorbjörg Sigríður Gunnlaugsdóttir, representing the Government of Iceland, also took part in the ceremony: "All three initiatives shortlisted for this year's prize deserve our recognition and applause. Their work reminds us that change is possible." Vigdís had been a role model for a generation of Icelandic girls, she said, showing that women could aspire to the highest office - and succeed.
Representatives of the two runners-up for the 2026 prize each received diplomas: the Girl Child Counselling Women Group from Kenya, which supports children, girls and young mothers affected by HIV/AIDS and extreme poverty, and Sasane - Samrakshak Samuha from Nepal, a survivor-led organisation that combats human trafficking, child marriage, sexual exploitation and gender-based violence.
Almost 300 nominations from around the world were considered by the prize selection panel, made up of six independent experts in the field of women's empowerment, three nominated by the Assembly and three nominated by the Government of Iceland, and chaired by the President Bayr.
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