Privacy and Human Rights Award  [FR] [ES]

The Global Privacy Assembly (GPA) launched in June 2024 a new international award, in collaboration with Access Now, the global human rights organization, to celebrate exemplary work to protect and promote privacy and other fundamental rights.

The Privacy and Human Rights Award, developed by the GPA’s Data Protection and Other Rights and Freedoms Working Group (DPORF WG), recognizes organizations that have demonstrated outstanding leadership or initiative at the international, state, or regional level in the fields of privacy or data protection as well as human rights.

The inaugural Privacy and Human Rights Award was presented at Access Now’s summit on human rights in the digital age, RightsCon, in Taipei, Taiwan in February 2025.

The 2024 inaugural prize was awarded to two co-winners by Commissioner Philippe Dufresne, Canada’s Privacy Commissioner and Chair of the DPORF WG: the 5Rights Foundation and the Internet Freedom Foundation.

  • The global 5Rights Foundation was recognized for its efforts to promote the adoption of laws that guarantee digital privacy and data protection rights for children. The organization was instrumental in securing the United Kingdom’s Children’s Code, a first-ever statutory code of practice for protecting children’s data and advocating for California’s Age-Appropriate Design Code. The Foundation has also developed a Child Online Safety Toolkit to help lawmakers enshrine online safety into their laws and practices.
  • The India-based Internet Freedom Foundation was honoured for its litigation and advocacy work defending online freedom and addressing the use of excessive and illegal surveillance. In particular, it was recognized for its advocacy work related to the surveillance of sanitation workers and the introduction of a student ID system.

What are the eligibility requirements?

This award recognizes an organization that has demonstrated outstanding leadership or initiative at the state, regional, or international level in the fields of privacy or data protection as well as human rights.

To be eligible, organizations must have demonstrated these qualities, for example, through:

  • The development of a new initiative or project which sheds light on the relationship between privacy and other human rights.
  • The delivery of advocacy work at the state or regional level to highlight privacy-related issues in connection with the expression of other human rights.
  • The development of new tools or resources to assist communities with understanding their privacy rights in relation to other human rights.
  • The undertaking of research and reporting of exceptional quality and depth that focuses on the intersection of privacy, data protection and other fundamental human rights.

How do I nominate an organization?

NOTE: Nomination process is closed for 2024. The 2025 nomination process will launch soon, and more details will be published on this site once they are available.

Individuals can nominate any organization that meets the eligibility criteria, including an organization they work for. Details of the nominated organization’s contribution towards privacy and human rights must be outlined in the nomination form. Please note that individuals can nominate more than one organization. To do so, please submit one nomination form per nominee.

Can individuals be nominated?

While individuals have made notable contributions in the fields of privacy and human rights, the Privacy and Human Rights Award recognizes contributions at the organizational level. Organizations consisting of only one individual, however, are eligible for the award.

What is the submission deadline?

Nomination process is closed for 2024. More information to come for the upcoming 2025 nomination round.

What language can I nominate someone in?

Nomination forms need to be submitted in English.

How will the award recipient be selected?

An award sub-committee, consisting of representatives from the GPA’s Data Protection and Other Rights and Freedoms Working Group, the GPA’s Reference Panel, and Access Now will determine the award recipient.

The award sub-committee will select the award recipient via consensus vote. If no consensus can be reached, the recipient will be selected via a simple majority. To ensure integrity and transparency of this process, member authorities of the award sub-committee will be made public.

In 2024, the sub-committee was comprised of representatives from:

  • Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada
  • South Africa Information Regulator
  • Personal Data Protection Service, Georgia
  • GPA Reference Panel
  • Access Now

Other questions?

Please send any other questions to secretariat@globalprivacyassembly.org.