One Day Seyoum Founder Wins 2025 Magnitsky Award In Recognition Of Her Eritrean Activism

We are proud to announce that One Day Seyoum’s founder and executive director Vanessa Tsehaye has received the 2025 Magnitsky Award for ‘Outstanding Human Rights Activist’. The committee said that this award is in recognition of her “courageous advocacy for Eritrean political prisoners, including her uncle Seyoum Tsehaye, and her efforts exposing human rights abuse.”

In her acceptance speech at the award ceremony in London, Vanessa said:

“I never could have dreamt that the organisation would become what it is today. I am so proud of everything we have achieved, and none of it would have been possible without our incredible community - my team, our members, supporters, mentors. There are too many names to name, but to every single one of you, thank you, thank you, thank you from the deepest bottom of my heart for making One Day Seyoum what it is.

I am so grateful for this recognition and for the committee's decision to shine a light on our struggle, especially as the world continueheres to ignore the pain of Eritreans. But my work is only possible because of the brave survivors who continue to advocate after they flee the country. It’s the greatest honour of my life to be in this movement with you and this recognition belongs to all of us.

It goes without saying that I dedicate this award to my hero Seyoum Tsehaye who has remained imprisoned since 2001. We don’t know where he is, we don’t even know if he is still alive. 24 years have passed but we will never stop fighting for you or forget you. And until you are free, I vow to continue this work in your name.”

You can watch the full speech here.

Thank you to the Magnitsky committee for recognising our work and shining a much needed light on Eritrea.