Oinikhol Bobonazarova

Oinikhol Bobonazarova, born on June tenth, nineteen forty-eight, is a prominent Tajikistani human rights defender and jurist. Her activism took a significant turn in nineteen ninety-three when she was arrested and convicted of treason, accused of plotting a coup. After spending a few months in prison, she transitioned into a role as a human rights counselor at the Tajik office of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.

Throughout her career, Bobonazarova has been dedicated to advocating for the rights of marginalized groups. She has worked with the Tajik branch of the Open Society Foundation and, as of two thousand thirteen, has led the “Perspektiva Plus” human rights group. This organization focuses on the rights of prisoners, women, and Tajikistani labor migrants, and has been instrumental in establishing the country's first independent prison monitoring program since the closure of prisons to outside access in two thousand four.

In a historic move, she became the first woman to attempt a presidential run in Tajikistan in two thousand thirteen, although her campaign was unable to gather sufficient signatures to proceed. Her relentless commitment to human rights has not gone unnoticed; in two thousand fourteen, she was honored with the International Women of Courage award, becoming the first Tajikistani woman to receive this prestigious recognition.