For his extraordinary work in rescuing Ukrainian children across the war-ravaged border with Russia and in the occupied territories.
Kuleba, who called out the abduction of Ukrainian children into Russia as “child trafficking in the 21st century,” took decisive action by repeatedly crossing into Russia to rescue Ukrainian children who had been abducted. Despite multiple, persistent attempts on his life and threats against his family, he has shown unwavering resolve, repeatedly travelling into Russia on these rescue missions. His extraordinary bravery, moral clarity, and dedication exemplify the ideals that the Civil Courage Prize was established to recognize. Mykola Kuleba is a globally recognized child protection expert who served as a Presidential Commissioner for Children’s Rights from 2014 to 2021.