The 2025 Vigdís Prize for Women’s Empowerment has been awarded to the Women of the Sun organisation from Palestine, which “seeks to create pathways and opportunities for Palestinian women to enter fields traditionally dominated by men, including in politics, business and technology”. This 60,000-euro annual prize, awarded jointly by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and the Government of Iceland, honours “outstanding initiatives to promote the empowerment of women in all their diversity, in Europe and beyond”. It is named after Iceland’s former President Vigdís Finnbogadóttir, the first woman in the world to be elected as a head of state. According to a statement from Strasbourg, Women of the Sun, founded by Reem al-Hajajreh in 2021, runs programmes which promote access to quality education for girls, encourage women to take on leadership roles, support women entrepreneurs and create cultural opportunities for women. “It also brings Palestinian and Israeli women together in a joint effort for peace”. “I stand before you today carrying this recognition with both pride and humility — not in my name alone, but on behalf of the thousands of Palestinian women who continue to raise their voices despite all challenges”, said Reem al-Hajajreh at the award ceremony in Strasbourg.