News item | 10-12-2025 | 8:00 PM
This year, the Human Rights Tulip has been awarded to Ayin Network, a Sudanese media platform that continues to report in the middle of the war. Human Rights Ambassador Wim Geerts presented the prize on December 10 in the Peace Palace on behalf of the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
In a letter addressed to Ayin Network, Minister of Foreign Affairs Van Weel writes:
‘With this award we recognize your important work. It reminds us that standing up for human rights often comes at a high price. But it is the courage of those who persevere – despite all the risks – that makes real change possible.’
The Human Rights Tulip
The Human Rights Tulip is awarded annually by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to support human rights defenders in the work they do: highlighting, protecting and improving human rights in the world. The winner of the Human Rights Tulip receives a tulip-shaped bronze statue and a cash prize of €50,000, with which the winner can continue and possibly expand human rights work.
Ayin Network’s work in Sudan
Ayin Network is a Sudanese media platform that provides the Sudanese people with reliable, high-quality information and raises the voices of marginalized groups. With investigative journalism and films, the network calls those in power to account, documents serious human rights violations in Sudan and creates international visibility for the conflict. Ayin Network does this in regions where hardly any reporting is published anymore.
Tribute
Winning the Human Rights Tulip means a lot to Ayin Network. Director Zain: ‘It is recognition of our work. It shows that people outside Sudan understand the pressure we are working under.” Ayin wants the prize to also be seen as a tribute to all Sudanese journalists who can no longer do their work.
At least 14 journalists have been killed in Sudan since 2023, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), which only counts journalists killed in the line of duty. The Sudan Union of Journalists reports that 32 journalists have been killed, with some dying in the line of duty and others not.
During the ceremony, human rights ambassador Geerts said in his speech:
‘Our Minister of Foreign Affairs was deeply impressed by Ayin Network’s important reporting from the conflict areas in Sudan, often under difficult circumstances. Their work informs the Sudanese people and draws global attention to what has been called “the worst humanitarian crisis of the 21st century.” This decision highlights the importance of press freedom and the safety of journalists, especially at a time when misinformation is on the rise.”
Train citizen journalists
The departure of many professional journalists from Sudan has created a large gap. The prize money can be used to train new reporters as ‘citizen journalists’. They must learn how to work safely, how to protect sources and how to verify information. A lot of guidance takes place via poor connections and under high time pressure.
Equipment and storage are also a concern. Cameras disappear during raids or are taken away by warring groups. Phones get damaged while fleeing. The biggest challenge remains safety. Reporters are in danger every day and arranging safe routes, emergency shelter or other types of assistance costs time and money.
Other nominees
This year, ten candidates were nominated for the Human Rights Tulip. All candidates have been selected after a local selection and nomination process by Dutch embassies and civil society and will receive an embassy tulip in recognition of their meaningful work. The embassy tulip winners formed the 10 nominees for the central Human Rights Tulip. A top 3 was then selected by an independent jury of human rights experts.