Open Society Foundations President Binaifer Nowrojee Receives International Law Institute’s 2025 Lifetime Impact Award

WASHINGTON, D.C.-The Open Society Foundations are proud to announce that president Binaifer Nowrojee is the recipient of the International Law Institute's 2025 Lifetime Impact Award for her leadership as a champion of rights, equity, and justice globally.

The Lifetime Impact Award recognizes leaders whose work has profoundly shaped communities and strengthened legal institutions worldwide. Nowrojee, an international human rights lawyer, has been a leader in the human rights space for three decades. Nowrojee joins Judge Ann Claire Williams, the inaugural 2024 honoree, in receiving this distinction.

"I am deeply honored to receive the International Law Institute's Lifetime Impact Award," said Binaifer Nowrojee, president of the Open Society Foundations. "This award is a recognition of a shared commitment to something larger than ourselves-that the rule of law must also mean the defense of human rights, the advancement of justice, and the importance of accountability."

"Binaifer Nowrojee's career has transformed lives across the world. From her groundbreaking work in human rights advocacy, to her leadership in building strong, inclusive institutions, she has consistently advanced justice, governance, and women's empowerment," said Stuart Kerr, president of the International Law Institute. "Her impact is profound, enduring, and deeply aligned with the values the International Law Institute stands for."

Binaifer Nowrojee is the president of the Open Society Foundations, the world's largest private funder working to promote human rights, equity, and justice. She previously served as vice president leading regional programs as well as the first regional director for the Asia-Pacific and the founding director of the East Africa foundation.

Nowrojee worked at Human Rights Watch for a decade as an investigator documenting human rights violations and advocating for justice in conflict situations. Her documentation and advocacy work helped to draw attention to the horrific sexual violence during the genocide in Rwanda helped secure the first ever convictions for genocide and rape as a weapon of war. She was a lecturer at Harvard Law School and a fellow at Harvard's Carr Center for Human Rights. Nowrojee holds a JD from Columbia Law School and an LLM from Harvard Law School.

The award is part of the International Law Institute's nearly 70-year commitment to strengthening legal institutions and advancing human development across Africa and beyond.