2020 in review: 8 facts about women in tech, politics, and diplomacy
7. European Parliament awarded the 2020 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought to Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and Veranika Tsapkala “on behalf of the democratic opposition in Belarus, represented by the Coordination Council, an initiative of brave women and political and civil society figures.”

“The whole world is aware of what is happening in your country,” said EU Parliament President David Sassoli. “We see your courage. We see the courage of women. We see your suffering. We see the unspeakable abuses. We see the violence. Your aspiration and determination to live in a democratic country inspires us.”

Accepting the prize, the main opposition candidate Tsikhanouskaya said: “Each and every Belarusian who takes part in the peaceful protest against violence and lawlessnes is a hero. Each of them is an example of courage, compassion, and dignity.

The EU Parliament listed the many brave women part of the democratic opposition in Belarus and the country’s Coordination Council: main opposition candidate Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, Nobel Laureate Svetlana Alexievich, musician and political activist Maryia Kalesnikava, and political activists Volha Kavalkova and Veranika Tsapkala, as well as political and civil society figures like video blogger and political prisoner Siarhei Tsikhanouski, Ales Bialiatski, founder of the Belarusian human rights organization Viasna, Siarhei Dyleuski, Stsiapan Putsila, founder of the Telegram Messenger channel NEXTA, and Mikola Statkevich, political prisoner and presidential candidate in the 2010 election.
['Andreas Sandre']
['Technology', 'Government', 'Tech', 'Women In Tech', 'Women']