International Pride Awards honour five champions of LGBTIQ+ equality

Five outstanding advocates for LGBTIQ+ equality were recognised at the 2026 International Pride Awards, presented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and ILGA World during the WorldPride Human Rights Conference in Amsterdam on 5 August.

Launched in 2024, the International Pride Awards celebrate resilience, solidarity and progress by highlighting individuals and organisations whose work is strengthening LGBTIQ+ movements, expanding rights and promoting dignity across the globe. The initiative aims to give global visibility to leaders whose efforts reaffirm the principle that no one should be left behind.

This year's award recipients represent different generations, professions and forms of activism, demonstrating that progress can be achieved through community organising, political leadership, healthcare reform, historical memory and inclusive education.

The 2026 laureates are South African Deputy Minister Mmapaseka Steve Letsike, Dutch human rights organisation COC Nederland, Chilean transgender activist Marcela Dimonty, Ugandan transgender pastor and community leader Aggie Dennett Harmon, and Indian medical educator and disability and LGBTIQ+ rights advocate Dr. Satendra Singh.

The winners were selected by an independent awards committee composed of activists, human rights defenders and LGBTIQ+ movement leaders following an open global nomination process. According to the organisers, the selected recipients illustrate the many ways social change can be achieved, from strengthening grassroots organisations and transforming healthcare systems to preserving community memory and increasing political representation.

Eligible awardees from low- and middle-income countries will receive a grant of US$10,000 to help expand the impact and continuity of their work.

Speaking at the ceremony, Mandeep Dhaliwal, Director of HIV, Health and Development at UNDP, said that the awardees' courage comes at a time when LGBTIQ+ communities are facing growing hostility and shrinking civic space. She noted that their leadership is transforming institutions, strengthening communities and expanding people's freedom to live with dignity.

Julia Ehrt, Executive Director of ILGA World, highlighted that equality is built every day through organising, caring, documenting, teaching and creating opportunities for others. Despite working in different countries and contexts, she said, this year's recipients share the conviction that everyone should be able to live free from fear and prejudice.

Among the awardees, COC Nederland was recognised for its decades-long support to grassroots LGBTIQ+ organisations in more than 35 countries. Founded in 1946, it is the world's oldest continuously operating LGBTIQ+ rights organisation and has played a key role in strengthening local movements facing criminalisation, discrimination and violence.

Ugandan activist Aggie Dennett Harmon received recognition for her work supporting transgender women and other vulnerable LGBTIQ+ people through psychosocial services, trauma-informed care and safe community spaces. As co-founder of Talented Youth Community Fellowship Uganda and founder of the Nange Healing and Harm Reduction Center, she combines advocacy with community support and faith-based inclusion.

The Emerging Leader Award went to Mmapaseka Steve Letsike, whose transition from civil society activism to national politics has strengthened LGBTIQ+ representation in South Africa. Since becoming Deputy Minister for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, she has worked to tackle discrimination, improve access to healthcare and promote more inclusive public policies.

Chilean activist Marcela Dimonty was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award for decades of advocacy linking the persecution experienced by LGBTIQ+ people during Chile's military dictatorship with today's fight for the rights of older transgender people. Her testimony and activism have contributed to preserving historical memory while inspiring new generations of campaigners.

The Outstanding Ally Award was presented to Dr. Satendra Singh, whose work has helped challenge the medical pathologisation of intersex and LGBTIQ+ people in India. His advocacy has contributed to reforms promoting inclusive medical education, respectful language and greater protection for intersex children within healthcare systems.

By recognising leaders from different regions and backgrounds, the International Pride Awards continue to highlight the diverse ways in which individuals and organisations are advancing equality and human rights for LGBTIQ+ communities around the world.