Sakharov Fellowship Programme

The European Parliament's Sakharov Fellowship offers up to 14 human rights defenders selected from non-EU countries the opportunity to follow a two-week intensive training in Brussels and at another location in an EU Member State. The empowering programme for human rights defenders has been organised annually since 2016 further to an initiative taken by the Sakharov Prize Community at the 25th Anniversary Conference of the Sakharov Prize.

Benefits include:

• Induction into EU policies and mechanisms supporting human rights defenders
• Meetings with Members of the European Parliament, EU officials, and Brussels‑based NGOs
• Workshops on communication, advocacy, security, resilience, disinformation, and documentation of violations
• Space for individual advocacy, networking, and communication activities
• Integration into the Sakharov Community, maintaining links with EU Delegations and peers worldwide

• Proven record in campaigning for human rights (NGO, organization, or individual capacity)
• High level of English (working language of the fellowship)
• Commitment to full two‑week program (Brussels + Member State)
• Selection ensures gender balance and broad representation of issues/geographies