Zar Li Aye, a lawyer and human rights defender from Myanmar's Indigenous Chin community, has been honoured by the International Bar Association (IBA), the global voice of the legal profession, with the 2026 IBA Award for Outstanding Contribution by a Legal Practitioner to Human Rights . Ms Aye received the Award during the 2026 IBA Annual Conference in Copenhagen in recognition of her commitment to advancing legal reform.
Ms Aye commented: 'Receiving the IBA Outstanding Contribution by a Legal Practitioner to Human Rights Award is a profound honour. Coming from a triple-minority background through my ethnicity, gender and faith, becoming a lawyer gave me the opportunity to transform my experiences into a commitment to challenge injustice. Throughout my career, I have stood alongside people marginalised because of their ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or political beliefs, advocating before courts, lawmakers and other forums. This recognition belongs not only to me, but also to the courageous lawyers, human rights defenders and communities in Myanmar who continue pursuing justice despite extraordinary risks, particularly since the 2021 military coup. This Award strengthens my commitment to use the law, reform the law where it perpetuates injustice and work towards a future Myanmar where inclusive justice, judicial independence and human dignity are protected.'
Courageous representation and lasting legal reform
A Supreme Court advocate in Myanmar, Ms Aye has served as a Legal Adviser to the International Commission of Jurists since 2016 and has been a Team Leader of Lawyer For YOU since 2021. Her work combines direct legal representation with public education on digital security and privacy rights. Since the 2021 military coup , she has provided pro bono representation in more than 3,000 cases. Her work had contributed to the release of more than 500 people by 2023.
eyond the courtroom, Ms Aye co-founded Justice for WOMEN (JFW) - an organisation working to advance women's rights and access to justice, including addressing gender-based violence and discrimination. Having moved on from JFW, she has supported communities affected by land seizures, and since 2019 has worked with CAN-Myanmar and a coalition of more than 35 LGBTQIA+ organisations to develop the proposed Myanmar Equal Treatment Act . The draft legislation seeks to protect LGBTQIA+ people, women, children, persons with disabilities and Indigenous peoples from discrimination.
Ms Aye's work has also reached international forums. In March 2026, she addressed a side event during the 61st session of the United Nations Human Rights Council . There, she highlighted the escalating persecution of lawyers representing political detainees and human rights defenders in Myanmar. She has also contributed to international accountability efforts concerning enforced disappearances and the protection of human rights defenders at risk.
IBA judging panel statement
In a joint statement, the IBA judging panel said: 'Zar Li Aye is an inspiring and devoted lawyer and human rights defender from the Indigenous Chin community in Myanmar. She has dedicated her career to defending human rights, advocating for access to justice for marginalised groups and bringing about systemic legal reform in Myanmar. Her clients have ranged from ordinary citizens to high-profile activists and human rights defenders arbitrarily detained or targeted for expressing dissent. In the face of political repression and significant security threats, Zar Li Aye continues her work from outside Myanmar. This award, which recognises lawyers who make exceptional strides in advancing human rights, honours Zar Li Aye's unwavering commitment and extraordinary courage to protect vulnerable groups and the rule of law.'
Award presentation
Marissa Kardon Weber, Co-Chair of the IBA Section on Public and Professional Interest (SPPI) Human Rights Law Committee , presented the Award to Ms Aye during the SPPI awards breakfast on Thursday 8 October 2026.
The presentation took place at the 2026 IBA Annual Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark. Her acceptance remarks can be read here .
