Jacqueline Moudeina is a prominent human rights activist and one of Chad’s first female lawyers, known for her work representing victims and survivors of the regime of Hissène Habré in the international case against the late former dictator. This work drew threats and risks to her life, as she survived a grenade attack in 2001 that required 15 months of medical treatment. In May 2016, after 25 years of campaigning, Moudeina’s efforts paid off as the Extraordinary African Chambers in the Senegalese court system convicted the former dictator of crimes against humanity, war crimes, and torture, including sexual violence and rape, and sentenced him to life in prison. In April 2017, an appeals court confirmed the verdict and ordered Habré to pay approximately $145 million in victim compensation. Moudeina is a member of the Chadian Association for the Promotion and Defense of Human Rights, where she provides free legal advice and human rights awareness training. She has earned numerous international accolades, including the 2002 Martin Ennals Award for Human Rights Defenders and the 2011 Right Livelihood Award.
