Nisaa FM: - Prominent Egyptian human rights lawyer, Ragia Omran, has won the Franco-German Prize for Human Rights and the Rule of Law for her work representing political prisoners and torture victims as well as advocating for women's rights. The prize was presented to Omran on December 10.

Ragia Omran is an Egyptian human rights activist, lawyer and feminist. She is especially known for her work protecting women's rights, speaking out against the sexual harassment, campaigning against female genital mutilation and her defend of political protesters during the Arab Spring protests.

Omran works to protect women abused in Egypt, but she also speaks publicly on the role of women generally in the country and why she refuses to stay silent. She has been especially concerned by the use of sexual assault as a weapon of war against women, e.g. during demonstrations. Many have long stayed silent, but not anymore. Concerned citizens and activists have set up teams to try to protect female demonstrators because they do not trust the police to intervene.

In an interview with Al Jazeera in 2013 Omran says that she remains hopeful: "There is a rising awareness ... Egyptians are very active, to fight this. I don’t think it will get worse .... There has been a draft law. Hopefully legislation will pass."

Ragia Omran was chosen as one of 15 rights defenders from around the world to receive the European Prize. This is the second time in four years Omran has won an international prize. In 2013, she was awarded the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights' 30th annual award for her work in Egypt.

Sources: www.alaraby.co.uk and www.aljazeera.com