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Honoring Meseret Hadush 19th Bremen Solidarity Prize Laureate
The Horn of Africa Geopolitical Review (HAGR), in collaboration with the Horn News Hub Editorial Board, proudly issues this Special Edition to honor the extraordinary achievement of Meseret Hadush, founder of the Hiwyet Charity Association (HCA), who has been awarded the 19th Bremen Solidarity Prize by the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen, Germany.
This distinguished award, one of the world’s most respected recognitions of human rights and solidarity, places Meseret among an esteemed lineage of global changemakers such as Nelson Mandela, Aung San Suu Kyi, and Aminatou Haidar.
A Voice for the Silenced, a Light for the BrokenBroken
Meseret Hadush embodies resilience and unwavering commitment to justice in the face of unimaginable violence. A young Tigrayan woman who endured the brutality of the genocidal war in Tigray, Meseret transformed personal pain into a mission of healing by founding the Hiwyet Charity Association in 2023.
“Hiwyet,” meaning healing in Tigrinya, was created to restore dignity, provide holistic care, and demand justice for tens of thousands of women and girls who survived weaponized sexual violence during the conflict. At a time when silence, denial, and impunity overshadowed the global response, Meseret stood firm, ensuring survivors’ voices could not be buried by fear or shame.
Bravery in the Face of Threats
Meseret’s advocacy has come at profound personal risk. She has faced threats, intimidation, and conspiracies aimed at silencing her work. Despite these dangers, she continues to speak for survivors, organize communities, and demand accountability, demonstrating that the moral power of truth can withstand even the most oppressive forces.
A Global Platform for Justice
By awarding Meseret Hadush the Bremen Solidarity Prize, the international community sends a powerful message:
• Sexual violence as a weapon of war is a crime against humanity and will not be forgotten.
• Survivors’ dignity is central to peace, justice, and reconstruction.
• The voices of women from Tigray now resonate within the global conscience.
As Bremen’s Mayor Andreas Bovenschulte emphasized:
“The award for Meseret Hadush and the organization she founded, Hiwyet, sends an important message against sexual violence in war situations and for solidarity with the women affected, not only in Tigray, but worldwide.”
A Legacy Among Giants
The Bremen Solidarity Prize has historically recognized some of the world’s most courageous advocates for justice, including Nelson Mandela (1988), Immaculée Birhaheka (2009), Aminatou Haidar (2013), and Stella Agara (2017).
With this honor, Meseret Hadush joins their ranks—carrying forward a legacy of resistance, healing, and unwavering dedication to human rights. Her recognition is not only personal; it belongs to the women of Tigray, to survivors of conflict-related sexual violence across Africa, and to women worldwide whose voices are too often silenced.
Our Collective Acknowledgement
The Horn of Africa Geopolitical Review (HAGR) and our editorial board of international political, diplomatic, and security experts extend our deepest respect and admiration to Meseret Hadush. Her courage transforms her into a symbol of healing and justice for a wounded people and amplifies the cause of survivors everywhere.
We reaffirm:
• The international community must continue to hold perpetrators accountable.
• Survivors must receive comprehensive healing, justice, and empowerment.
• The story of Tigray must remain at the forefront of global conscience—never forgotten, never erased.
A Call to Action
Meseret Hadush’s recognition is more than an award—it is a call to action.
It calls upon the world to confront sexual violence in conflict with the same urgency as any other weapon of war.
It calls upon the people of Tigray to honor and protect their courageous daughters.
It calls upon humanity to recognize that in the darkest of times, extraordinary women like Meseret rise—carrying the healing light for generations to come.
Her victory is historic. Her courage is eternal.
