REDRESS’s Innovative Lawyers Awards, granted under the umbrella of the United Against Torture Consortium, encourage and empower a new generation of lawyers in the anti-torture movement to challenge the use of torture in their communities.
The aim of the awards is to recognise the vital work of new and emerging anti-torture champions, expose them to a broader peer support network, offer them some financial support to pursue public interest litigation, and to inspire other lawyers and practitioners.
The United Against Torture Consortium is working to challenge torture used to silence those who dissent and to further oppress marginalised and excluded minorities by using strategic litigation. We work with national civil society partners to hold governments to account and to protect those who may feel powerless to respond to such abuses.
Applications for the Innovative Lawyers Awards 2026 are now open
Emilija Švobaitė of Sienos Grupė and ReLex Law Firm studied history of art and then French literature before devoting her career to human rights law.
“The biggest challenge in Lithuania is our geopolitical context. We have a war happening very near to us in Ukraine, and our history is one of occupation over many years. Human rights activists and lawyers are often presented as being in opposition to national security.”
Nina has been connected to the anti-torture field since her Bachelor of Law. She is currently studying for a MA degree in law and is a member of the Rio de Janeiro State Front for Decarceration. She is also part of the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro’s student research group on the Inter-American Human Rights System and a fellow researcher at the Institute of Applied Economic Research where she investigates the impacts of mass incarceration.
Manushika Cooray of Human Rights Law Chambers, winner of one of REDRESS’s Innovative Lawyers Awards, spoke with REDRESS about tackling torture in Sri Lanka as a female lawyer and advancing the anti-torture movement.
Manushika is a founding partner of the Human Rights Law Chamber, which handles cases related to human rights violations, and a consultant on human rights and legal researcher at the Centre for Society and Religion in Colombo.
Dr. Tshepang Edwin Makwatiis a recipient of one of REDRESS’s Innovative Lawyers Awards. He spoke with REDRESS about his work litigating cases of torture in Botswana and securing reparationfor victims throughMakwatiT.E. Law Group, the law firm that he founded. He also discussed his commitment to mentoring young professionals in human rights advocacy and his efforts to advance the anti-torture movement.
Masafu Okwara is a lawyer at the National Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (NGLHRC) and a recipient of REDRESS’s Innovative Lawyers Awards. She spoke with REDRESS about confronting discrimination and violence against LGBTIQ+ people in Kenya. Through NGLHRC’s Legal Aid Clinic, she provides free legal representation to LGBTIQ+ people and also coordinates community legal education to build the agency of LGBTIQ+ persons to seek access to justice for human rights violations.
Laura Medina is a human rights lawyer in Spain and REDRESS Innovative Lawyers Award recipient. She spoke about the realities of documenting and litigating torture in a system marked by institutional resistance. Working with Irídia – Centre for the Defence of Human Rights, Laura works on cases of ill-treatment in detention, during protests, in public spaces, and at Spain’s southern border, which are often rooted in ethnic and racial profiling and structural racism. She explained how state security forces, prison officers, and private security actors are key perpetrators.
Edgar Kaiser is a human rights lawyer from India and a REDRESS Innovative Lawyers Award recipient. He works with People’s Watch, an organisation dedicated to combating injustice and discrimination across India. Edgar spoke to us about the challenges faced by human rights defenders, and the deep structural inequalities that lead to torture and human rights abuses against marginalised communities. Despite these risks, Edgar is driven by the inspiration he draws from his work with victims and from seeing the real impact his work has on people’s lives.
Roberta Cortés Ruiz is a human rights lawyer from Mexico and a recipient of the REDRESS Innovative Lawyers Award. She works as a consultant and accompanies survivors of torture and other human rights violations in their pursuit of justice.
Roberta has collaborated with Almas Cautivas, an organisation that works closely with people deprived of liberty and promotes actions that support the successful reintegration of those who have regained their freedom. Through this work, she has supported many LGBTIQ+ individuals, particularly trans women. She believes that the future of anti-torture work must be collective and interdisciplinary, and that survivors and their families should be recognised as human rights defenders in their own right.
Osvaldo de Almeida is a human rights lawyer from Angola and a recipient of the REDRESS Innovative Lawyers Award. He works with Friends of Angola, an organisation dedicated to raising global awareness of the challenges facing the country and strengthening its civil society.
In a blog, Osvaldo examines how the systemic delays in judicial hearings in Angola undermine the right to a fair and timely trial. He highlights how these delays, particularly for individuals deprived of liberty, may heighten the risk of ill-treatment , and erode fundamental human rights protections.
Maryna Demura is a human rights lawyer from Ukraine and a recipient of the REDRESS Innovative Lawyers Award. She works with the Information Center for Human Rights (ZMINA), an organisation dedicated to defending human rights, documenting violations, and supporting human rights defenders and civil activists, particularly in the context of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
She has also served as a monitor for Ukraine’s National Preventive Mechanism, where she participated in visits to places of detention and contributed directly to the oversight of human rights conditions.
In this blog, Maryna explains how Ukraine’s National Preventive Mechanism continues to operate during wartime, highlighting its vital role in preventing torture despite severe challenges such as shelling, resource constraints, and the expansion of detention facilities.
Obinna Otuso is a human rights lawyer from Nigeria and a recipient of the REDRESS Innovative Lawyers Award. He works with the Legend Golden Care Foundation, an organisation that provides pro bono legal services to indigent inmates, expands access to education for disadvantaged children, and supports victims of sexual abuse and exploitation.
In this blog, Obinna argues that despite existing laws such as the Anti-Torture Act 2017, torture remains widespread in Nigeria due to weak enforcement, lack of accountability, and systemic failures. He highlights the urgent need to move from legal reform to ensure effective implementation to protect human rights.
Nina has been connected to the anti-torture field since her Bachelor of Law. She is currently studying for a MA degree in law and is a member of the Rio de Janeiro State Front for Decarceration. She is also part of the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro’s student research group on the Inter-American Human Rights System and a fellow researcher at the Institute of Applied Economic Research where she investigates the impacts of mass incarceration.
Masafu Okwara is a lawyer at the National Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (NGLHRC) and a recipient of REDRESS’s Innovative Lawyers Awards. She spoke with REDRESS about confronting discrimination and violence against LGBTIQ+ people in Kenya. Through NGLHRC’s Legal Aid Clinic, she provides free legal representation to LGBTIQ+ people and also coordinates community legal education to build the agency of LGBTIQ+ persons to seek access to justice for human rights violations.
Edgar Kaiser is a human rights lawyer from India and a REDRESS Innovative Lawyers Award recipient. He works with People’s Watch, an organisation dedicated to combating injustice and discrimination across India. Edgar spoke to us about the challenges faced by human rights defenders, and the deep structural inequalities that lead to torture and human rights abuses against marginalised communities. Despite these risks, Edgar is driven by the inspiration he draws from his work with victims and from seeing the real impact his work has on people’s lives.
Roberta Cortés Ruiz is a human rights lawyer from Mexico and a recipient of the REDRESS Innovative Lawyers Award. She works as a consultant and accompanies survivors of torture and other human rights violations in their pursuit of justice.
Osvaldo de Almeida is a human rights lawyer from Angola and a recipient of the REDRESS Innovative Lawyers Award. He works with Friends of Angola, an organisation dedicated to raising global awareness of the challenges facing the country and strengthening its civil society.
Maryna Demura is a human rights lawyer from Ukraine and a recipient of the REDRESS Innovative Lawyers Award. She works with the Information Center for Human Rights (ZMINA), an organisation dedicated to defending human rights, documenting violations, and supporting human rights defenders and civil activists, particularly in the context of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
